Sulfonated Lignin-Derived Compounds and uses Thereof

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to novel lignin-derived compounds and compositions comprising the same and their use as redox flow battery electrolytes. The invention further provides a method for preparing said compounds and compositions as well as a redox flow battery comprising said compounds and compositions. Additionally, an assembly for carrying out the inventive method is provided.

This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 16/091,436 filed on 4 Oct. 2018 which is a national phase of PCT Application No. PCT/EP2017/000461 filed on 7 Apr. 2017 which claims priority to EP Application No. 2017000198 filed on 13 Feb. 2017 and EP Application No. 2016000575 filed on 7 Apr. 2016. The contents of each application recited above are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

In recent years, concerns resulting from environmental consequences of exploiting fossil fuels as the main energy sources have led to an increasing prominence of renewable-energy systems (e.g., solar- and wind-based systems). The intermittent nature of such renewable energy sources however makes it difficult to fully integrate these energy sources into electrical power grids and distribution networks. A solution to this problem are large-scale electrical energy storage (EES) systems, which are also vital for the smart grid and distributed power generation development. Another important application of EES is electrification of on-ground transportation, as the replacement of traditional combustion engines with hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and pure electric vehicles (EVs) allows for reduction of carbon emissions and fuel savings (Soloveichik G. L. Chem. Rev. 2015, 115, 11533-11558).

The U.S. Department of Energy has identified four major challenges to the widespread implementation of EES: cost, reliability and safety, equitable regulatory environments, and industry acceptance. The development of novel EES technologies capable of resolving these challenges is critical (Soloveichik G. L. Chem. Rev. 2015, 115, 11533-11558). Redox-flow batteries (RFBs)—first developed by NASA during the energy crisis of the 1970's and currently entering a period of renaissance- are among the most promising scalable EES technologies. RFBs are electrochemical systems that can repeatedly store and convert electrical energy to chemical energy and vice versa when needed. Redox reactions are employed to store energy in the form of a chemical potential in liquid electrolyte solutions which flow through a battery of electrochemical cells during charge and discharge. The stored electrochemical energy can be converted to electrical energy upon discharge with concomitant reversal of the opposite redox reactions.

RFBs usually include a positive electrode (cathode) and a negative electrode (anode) in separated cells and separated by an ion-exchange membrane, and two circulating electrolyte solutions, positive and negative electrolyte flow streams, generally referred to as the “catholyte” and “anolyte”, respectively. Energy conversion between electrical energy and chemical potential occurs instantly at the electrodes, once the electrolyte solutions begin to flow through the cell. During discharge, electrons are released via an oxidation reaction from a high chemical potential state on the anode of the battery and subsequently move through an external circuit. Finally, the electrons are accepted via a reduction reaction at a lower chemical potential state on the cathode of the battery. Redox-flow batteries can be recharged by inversing the flow of the redox fluids and applying current to the electrochemical reactor.

The capacity and energy of redox flow batteries is determined by the total amount of redox active species for a set system available in the volume of electrolyte solution, whereas their current (power) depends on the number of atoms or molecules of the active chemical species that are reacted within the redox flow battery cell as a function of time. Redox-flow batteries thus have the advantage that their capacity (energy) and their current the (power) can be readily separated, and therefore readily up-scaled. Thus, capacity (energy) can be increased by increasing the number or size of the electrolyte tanks whereas the current (power) is controlled by controlling the number and size of the current collectors. Since energy and power of RFB systems are independent variables, RFBs are inherently well suitable for large applications, since they scale-up in a more cost-effective manner than other batteries. Moreover, RFBs provide a unique design flexibility as the required capacities for any application can be provided using tailor-made energy and power modules.

A well-established example of an RFB is the vanadium redox flow battery, which contains redox couples exclusively based on vanadium cations. Nevertheless, there is also a wide range of less commonly used inorganic flow cell chemistries, including the polysulfide-bromide battery (PSB). The wide-scale utilization of RFBs using inorganic redox materials is presently still limited by availability and costs of the redox materials. That holds even more so, whenever the redox materials are based on redox-active transition metals such as vanadium, and/or require precious-metal electrocatalysts. Toxicity (and associated health and environmental risks) of inorganic redox materials (such as vanadium salts or bromine) further limits applicability of inorganic RFBs for energy storage. That holds in particular when applying distributed, modular energy generation technologies that use (intermittent) “green power”, such as wind, photovoltaic, or hydroelectric power. Also, the incorporated materials may constitute overheating, fire or explosion risks.

In view of the disadvantages of RFBs based on inorganic redox species, RFBs were envisaged with different organic compounds. Novel organic redox active species for large-scale use in redox flow batteries should preferably be inexpensive, with high solubility and redox potential, and exhibit fast electrode kinetics. In early 2014, Huskinson et al. developed a metal-free flow battery based on 9,10-anthraquinone-2,7-disulphonic acid (AQDS) (Huskinson et al. Nature 2014, 505, 195-198 and WO 2014/052682 A2). Yang et al. reported on an organic redox flow battery with 1,2-benzoquinone-3,5-disulfonic acid (BQDS) as the catholyte, while AQDS or anthraquinone-2-sulfonic acid (AQS) was used as the anolyte (Yang et al. J. Electrochem. Soc. 2014, 161, A1371-A1380). However, sheer volume of needed energy storage demands millions of tons of active materials. To date, only a smaller number of organic chemicals are produced worldwide at such a scale (e.g., methanol, acetic acid, and phenol). Based on scale and availability, the “ideal” redox flow battery for large-scale deployment should be aqueous and use highly soluble multi-electron (i.e. highly energy dense) redox active species that are readily available and inexpensive as electrolytes. Derivatized anthra- and benzoquinones suggested as electrolytes by Huskinson et al. and Yang et al. are commercially available; however, costly and elaborate manufacture of any of them severely limits their broad-range, large-scale employment.

In summary, despite recent advantages in the development of rechargeable batteries, a long-felt need exists for safe, inexpensive, easy-to-use, reliable and efficient technologies for energy storage that enables diversification of energy supply and optimization of the energy grid, including increased penetration and utilization of renewable energies. By to their unique ability to decouple power and capacity functions, redox flow batteries are at least in principle well suitable for large scale energy storage applications. However, development efforts have not yet achieved large-scale employment of RFBs.

Moreover, existing redox flow batteries suffer from the reliance on battery chemistries that result in high costs of active materials and system engineering, low cell and system performance (e.g. round trip energy efficiency), poor cycle life and toxicity. Thus, there remains a need for novel electroactive redox materials, which are readily available at low cost and exhibit reduced toxicity. Preferably, such electrolytes further provide for a high energy density, a high operating potential, increased cell output voltage and extended lifetime. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for improved redox flow battery chemistries and systems.

It is the object of the present invention to comply with the above needs.

Although the present invention is described in detail below, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular methodologies, protocols and reagents described herein as these may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention which will be limited only by the appended claims. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

In the following, the features of the present invention will be described. These features are described for specific embodiments. It should, however, be understood that they may be combined in any manner and in any number to generate additional embodiments. The variously described examples and preferred embodiments should not be construed to limit the present invention to only explicitly described embodiments. This present description should be understood to support and encompass embodiments, which combine the explicitly described embodiments with any number of the disclosed and/or preferred features. Furthermore, any permutations and combinations of all described features in this application shall be considered supported by the description of the present application, unless it is understood otherwise.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the term “comprise”, and variations such as “comprises” and “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated member, integer or step but not the exclusion of any other non-stated member, integer or step. The term “consist of” is a particular embodiment of the term “comprise”, wherein any other non-stated member, integer or step is excluded. In the context of the present invention, the term “comprise” encompasses the term “consist of”. The term “comprising” thus encompasses “including” as well as “consisting” e.g., a composition “comprising” X may consist exclusively of X or may include something additional e.g., X+Y.

The terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar reference used in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Recitation of ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each individual value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention.

The word “substantially” does not exclude “completely” e.g., a composition which is “substantially free” from Y may be completely free from Y. Where necessary, the word “substantially” may be omitted from the definition of the invention.

The term “about” in relation to a numerical value x means x±10%.

For the purposes of this invention, the term “quinone” includes a compound having one or more conjugated, C₃₋₁₀ carbocyclic, fused rings, substituted, in oxidized form, with two or more oxo groups, which are in conjugation with the one or more conjugated rings. Preferably, the number of rings is from one to ten, e.g., one, two, or three, and each ring has 6 members.

The present invention provides novel compounds, compositions comprising the same and their unprecedented use in various applications, inter alia as as redox active species in redox flow batteries. Means and methods for preparing said compounds and compositions are also provided. The inventive compounds may advantageously be obtained from lignin, crude oil, coal or pure organic substances. In particular, lignin derivatives produced as waste or by-products of the pulping industry have previously largely been unexploited and can be valorized by the methods of the present invention. Specifically, the present inventors developed a novel process for obtaining valuable lignin-derived low molecular weight precursor compounds (in particular aromatic compounds, preferably quinones and hydroquinones) that are subjected to a sulfonation reaction. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is envisaged that the introduction of sulfonyl groups into the molecular (aromatic) skeleton improves solubility and electrochemical properties of the resulting compounds. The resulting sulfonated low molecular weight (“lmw”) preferably aromatic target compounds are thus useful in various applications, inter alia as electrolytes for redox flow battery applications. Advantageously, the inventors further discovered that compositions comprising or (essentially) consisting of mixtures of sulfonated target compounds as defined herein exhibit (in particular electrochemical) properties that are comparable to those of the pure target compounds. In consequence, the invention provides mixtures of sulfonated target compounds that are directly obtainable from lignin (or crude oil, coal, pure organic substances) processing as “ready-to-use” products, and in particular as electrolytes (or slurry, solids) in redox flow batteries. The invention thus surprisingly opens up unprecedented possibilities to obtain effective redox flow battery electrolytes at large scale and low cost by exploiting mass by-products of the pulping industry (or other feedstock materials).

The sulfonated lmw (aromatic) target compounds described herein are obtainable by a method comprising the steps of (1) providing a starting material; (2) optionally subjecting said starting material to a process suitable to obtain at least one low molecular weight precursor compound; (3) isolating and optionally modifying at least one low molecular weight precursor compound; thereby obtaining at least one (optionally modified) low molecular weight aromatic precursor compound; (4) subjecting said at least one (optionally modified) low molecular weight precursor compound to a sulfonation reaction, wherein one or more —SO₃H groups are introduced into said at least one precursor compound; thereby obtaining at least one sulfonated low molecular weight aromatic compound or a composition comprising the same or (essentially) consisting thereof; wherein said starting material is preferably selected from lignocellulosic material, crude oil, coal or pure organic substances.

Advantageously, the present invention inter alia allows for the valorization of lignocellulosic material, which is currently discarded as waste material of the pulping industry. According to the present invention, sulfonated lmw (aromatic) target compounds may be obtained from lignin by a method combining two separate processes, i.e. by using by-products of the pulping process as starting material for subsequent generation of sulfonated lmw (aromatic) lignin-derived compounds and compositions comprising the same. That approach preferably has the advantage of reducing energy consumption and employing renewable resources. The inventive method may advantageously be employed to provide (ideally within an integrated plant) lignin-derived lmw (aromatic) compounds and compositions comprising the same. These compounds and compositions serve as precursors for the production of sulfonated lmw (aromatic) lignin-derived compounds and compositions comprising the same that can be used as redox active compounds in redox flow batteries, which were previously (economically) amenable by non-renewable sources only, or can be employed in various other application.

Accordingly, in a first aspect, the present invention relates to novel sulfonated lmw (aromatic) compounds and composition comprising or (essentially) consisting of the same. In a further aspect, the invention provides methods for preparing said compounds and compositions. Said methods preferably comprise the general method steps (1)-(4) as indicated above. In a particular aspect, the present invention features a method for preparing sulfonated lmw (aromatic) compounds (and compositions) from lignin. The inventive methods preferably further entail method steps (1)-(5) and optionally (6), (7) and/or (8) as described in more detail below.

Redox Active Compounds and Compositions

The inventive method provides sulfonated (optionally lignin-derived) target compounds (and compositions comprising or (essentially) consisting of the same), which are preferably redox active. Preferably, the term “redox active” refers to the capability of a compound (or a composition comprising the same) to participate in a redox reaction. Such redox active compounds typically have energetically accessible levels that allow redox reactions to alter their charge state (whereby electrons are either removed (oxidation—yielding an oxidized form of the compound) from atoms of the compound being oxidized or transferred to the compound being reduced (reduction—yielding a reduced from of the compound)). A “redox active” compound may thus be understood as a chemical compound, which may form a pair of an oxidizing and reducing agent, i.e. a redox pair.

The inventive method preferably provides redox active compounds and compositions comprising or (essentially) consisting of the same, more preferably lignin-derived compounds (or compositions) that are particularly envisaged as redox flow battery electrolytes. Said compounds (or compositions) are also referred to as “target compounds” or “target compositions” herein and may preferably be obtained from lignin (or alternatively from crude oil, coal or pure organic substances) by applying the methods disclosed herein. Preferred (optionally lignin-derived) target compounds in accordance with the invention are sulfonated low molecular weight organic, preferably aromatic, target compounds, in particular sulfonated (hydro-)quinones.

Lignin-derived compositions according to the invention preferably comprise or (essentially) consist of at least one sulfonated (optionally lignin-derived) lmw organic compound as defined herein, which is preferably an aromatic compound. It will be understood that the term “composition” encompasses compositions comprising or (essentially) consisting of 2, or more, preferably 3 or more different sulfonated target compounds. By “essentially consisting of” is meant a composition comprising one or more sulfonated target compounds, with a minor amount of by-products, impurities or contaminants only (which are not sulfonated target compounds as defined herein), wherein said by-products or impurities constitute preferably less than 10%, preferably less than 5% the overall composition by dry content mass. By “consisting of” is meant a composition that is exclusively composed of at least two sulfonated target compounds, and does not comprise any impurities or by-products as defined above. Accordingly, the present invention inter alia encompasses the use of a (optionally lignin-derived) composition exclusively consisting of two or more different sulfonated target compound as defined herein. In other words, sulfonated target compounds (which may be used as redox flow battery electrolytes in the form of a composition) may exhibit a purity of 100%. It is thus envisaged that the lignin-derived composition comprises or (essentially) consists of mixtures of sulfonated lmw (aromatic) (optionally lignin-derived) compounds as defined herein.

Preferred sulfonated lmw (aromatic) (optionally lignin-derived) compounds according to the present invention are represented by the following structural formulae (X), (XI), (XII), (XIII), (XIV) or (XV) depicted below:

-   -   wherein each R¹, R², R³ or R⁴ is independently selected from         hydrogen, hydroxy, carboxy, linear or branched, optionally         substituted, C₁₋₆ alkyl, linear or branched, optionally         substituted, C₁₋₆ alkenyl, linear or branched, optionally         substituted, C₁₋₆ alcohol, linear or branched, optionally         substituted, C₁₋₆ aminoalkyl, linear or branched, optionally         substituted, C₁₋₆ carboxyalkyl, linear or branched, optionally         substituted, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, linear or branched, optionally         substituted, C₁₋₆ aldehyde, ester, halogen, amine, amino, amide,         nitro, oxo, carbonyl, phosphoryl, phosphonyl, cyanide and         sulfonyl,     -   provided that at least one of R¹-R⁴ is SO₃H;

-   -   wherein each R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵ or R⁶ is independently selected         from hydrogen, hydroxy, carboxy, linear or branched, optionally         substituted, C₁₋₆ alkyl, linear or branched, optionally         substituted, C₁₋₆ alkenyl, linear or branched, optionally         substituted, C₁₋₆ alcohol, linear or branched, optionally         substituted, C₁₋₆ aminoalkyl, linear or branched, optionally         substituted, C₁₋₆ carboxyalkyl, linear or branched, optionally         substituted, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, linear or branched, optionally         substituted, C₁₋₆ aldehyde, ester, halogen, amine, amino, amide,         nitro, oxo, carbonyl, phosphoryl, phosphonyl, cyanide and         sulfonyl,     -   provided that at least one of R¹-R⁶ is SO₃H;

-   -   wherein each R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷ or R⁸ is independently         selected from hydrogen, hydroxy, carboxy, linear or branched,         optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkyl, linear or branched,         optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkenyl, linear or branched,         optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alcohol, linear or branched,         optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ aminoalkyl, linear or branched,         optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ carboxyalkyl, linear or branched,         optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, linear or branched,         optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ aldehyde, ester, halogen, amine,         amino, amide, nitro, oxo, carbonyl, phosphoryl, phosphonyl,         cyanide and sulfonyl, provided that at least one of R¹-R⁸ is         SO₃H,     -   preferably selected from a sulfonated compound according to         Table 1, 2 or 3.

Alternatively, preferred sulfonated lmw (aromatic) (optionally lignin-derived) compounds according to the present invention may be represented by the following structural formulae (X), (XI), (XII), (XIII), (XIV) or (XV) depicted below:

-   -   wherein each R¹, R², R³ or R⁴ is independently selected from         hydrogen (H), hydroxy (OH), carboxy (COOH), optionally         substituted C₁₋₆ alkyl (including C_(n)H_(2n)OH and         C_(n)H_(2n)NH₂ wherein n is 1-6), carboxylic acids, esters,         halogen, optionally substituted C₁₋₆ alkoxy (including methoxy,         ethoxy), optionally substituted amino (including primary,         secondary, tertiary and quaternary amines), amide, nitro,         carbonyl, phosphoryl, phosphonyl, cyanide or sulfonyl (SO₃H);     -   provided that at least one of R¹-R⁴ is SO₃H;

-   -   wherein each R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵ or R⁶ is independently selected         from hydrogen (H), hydroxy (OH), carboxy (COOH), optionally         substituted C₁₋₆ alkyl (including C_(n)H_(2n)OH and         C_(n)H_(2n)NH₂ wherein n is 1-6), carboxylic acids, esters,         halogen, optionally substituted C₁₋₆ alkoxy (including methoxy,         ethoxy), optionally substituted amino (including primary,         secondary, tertiary and quaternary amines), amide, nitro,         carboxyl, phosphoryl, phosphonyl, cyanide or sulfonyl (SO₃H);     -   provided that at least one of R¹-R⁶ is SO₃H;

-   -   wherein each R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷ or R⁸ is independently         selected from hydrogen (H), hydroxy (OH), carboxy (COOH),         optionally substituted C₁₋₆ alkyl (including C_(n)H_(2n)OH and         —C_(n)H_(2n)NH₂wherein n is 1-6), carboxylic acids, esters,         halogen, optionally substituted C₁₋₆ alkoxy (including methoxy,         ethoxy), optionally substituted amino (including primary,         secondary, tertiary and quaternary amines), amide, nitro,         carboxyl, phosphoryl, phosphonyl, cyanide or sulfonyl (SO₃H);         provided that at least one of R¹-R⁸ is SO₃H.

Preferably in compounds characterized by Formula (X) or (XI), 1 to 3, more preferably 2 of R¹ to R⁴ are SO₃H. Preferably, in compounds characterized by Formula (XII) or (XIII), 1 to 4, more preferably 2 of R¹ to R⁶ are SO₃H. Preferably, in compounds characterized by Formula (XIV) or (XV), 1 to 5, more preferably 2 of R¹ to R⁸ are SO₃H.

The invention further provides a composition comprising at least two sulfonated low molecular weight aromatic compounds as described herein, preferably at least two distinct low molecular weight aromatic compounds with at least one compound being in the oxidized state according to Formula (X), (XII) or (XIV), and/or at least corresponding compound being in the reduced state according to Formula (XI), (XIII) or (XV).

In said composition, the said at least two sulfonated low molecular weight aromatic compounds are characterized by the following:

(a) at least one compound according to Formula (X) and (XI), preferably as defined in claim 2 or 3, preferably at least one compound of Formula (X) (oxidized state) and at least one corresponding compound of Formula (XI) (reduced state);

(b) at least one compound according to Formula (XII) and (XIII), preferably as defined herein, preferably at least one compound of Formula (XII) (oxidized state) and at least one corresponding compound of Formula (XIII) (reduced state); and/or

(c) at least one compound according to Formula (XIV) and (XV), optionally as defined herein, preferably at least one compound of Formula (XIV) (oxidized state) and at least one corresponding compound of Formula (XV) (reduced state).

Said composition may in particular comprise:

(a) at least two compounds according to Formula (X) and (XI), wherein said at least two compounds are distinctly sulfonated and/or substituted, preferably at least two distinct compounds being in the oxidized state according to Formula (X) and at least two corresponding distinct compounds according to Formula (XI) in the respective reduced state;

(b) at least two compounds according to Formula (XII) or (XIII), wherein said at least two compounds are distinctly sulfonated and/or substituted, preferably at least two distinct compounds being in the oxidized state according to Formula (XII) and at least two corresponding distinct compounds according to Formula (XIII) in the respective reduced state; and/or

(c) at least two compounds according to Formula (XIV) or (XV), wherein said at least two compounds are distinctly sulfonated and/or substituted, preferably at least two distinct compounds being in the oxidized state according to Formula (XIV) and at least two corresponding distinct compounds according to Formula (XV) in the respective reduced state.

It is therefore inter alia envisaged herein that the inventive composition may comprise (optionally distinctly sulfonated and/or substituted) benzohydroquinones (according to Formula (XI)), (optionally distinctly sulfonated and/or substituted) napththohydroquinones (according to Formula (XIII)), and/or (optionally distinctly sulfonated and/or substituted) anthrahydroquinones (according to Formula (XV)). It is inter alia also envisaged that the inventive composition may comprise (optionally distinctly sulfonated and/or substituted) benzoquinones (according to Formula (X)), (optionally distinctly sulfonated and/or substituted) napththoquinones (according to Formula (XII)), and/or (optionally distinctly sulfonated and/or substituted) anthrahydroquinones (according to Formula (XIV)). Mixtures of the aforementioned quinones and hydroquinones are also envisaged for the inventive compositions.

Each of said at least two compounds may comprise at least two SO₃H groups, preferably two SO₃H groups.

The lignin-derived composition according to the present invention may thus comprise or (essentially) consist of sulfonated lmw (aromatic) (optionally lignin-derived) compounds represented by structural formula (X), (XI), (XII), (XIII), (XIV) or (XV) as defined above, or mixtures thereof, in particular mixtures of sulfonated lmw (aromatic) (optionally lignin-derived) compounds represented by structural formulae (X) and/or (XI) (each one or both optionally exhibiting a distinct substitution pattern), mixtures of sulfonated lmw (aromatic) lignin-derived compounds represented by structural formulae (XII) and/or (XIII) (each one or both optionally exhibiting a distinct substitution pattern), or mixtures of sulfonated lmw (aromatic) lignin-derived compounds represented by structural formulae (XIV) and/or (XV) (each one or both optionally exhibiting a distinct substitution pattern).

In this context, the term “mixture” refers to a plurality of “different” sulfonated lmw (aromatic) lignin-derived compounds. Said compounds comprised by the mixture may be different (a) by virtue of their basic structure formulae (i.e. the term comprises for instance mixtures of compounds according to structural formulae (X), (XI) and (XII) or (b) by virtue of their substitution pattern, while optionally sharing the same basic structural formulae (i.e. the term comprises for instance mixtures of compounds according to structural formula (X) exhibiting different substitution patterns), or combinations thereof. By the term “substitution pattern” or “derivatization pattern” is meant the number, type and distribution of substituents, provided that all “different” compounds present in the mixture fall under the respective definitions given above.

Specifically, sulfonated lmw aromatic (optionally lignin-derived) compounds in accordance with the present invention may be characterized by Formula (X) or (XI) wherein R¹ and R⁴ are independently selected from H or SO₃H, R² is selected from H, OH, or C₁-C₆ alkoxy, preferably methoxy, or SO₃H, R³ is selected from H, OH or C₁-C₆ alkoxy, preferably methoxy. In some preferred compounds, R¹ and R⁴ are SO₃H, or R¹ and R³ may be SO₃H. Compositions comprising or (essentially) consisting of mixtures of any of the aforementioned compounds are also envisaged.

Further preferred compounds characterized by Formula (X) or (XI) may exhibit the following substitution pattern:

a) R⁴ is SO₃H;

b) R⁴ is SO₃H, R³ is methoxy;

c) R⁴ is SO₃H, R² and R³ are methoxy;

d) R¹ and R⁴ are SO₃H;

e) R¹ and R⁴ are SO₃H, R³ is methoxy;

f) R¹ and R⁴ are SO₃H, R² and R³ are methoxy;

g) R² and R⁴ are SO₃H, and R³ is methoxy,

wherein each of the others of R¹-R⁴ may be H (unless it is defined otherwise according to a)-g)).

Compositions comprising or (essentially) consisting of mixtures of compounds according to a)-g) are also envisaged.

Further, sulfonated lmw aromatic (optionally lignin-derived) compounds in accordance with the present invention may be characterized by Formula (XII) or (XIII), wherein R¹ and R² are independently selected from H, OH or C₁-C₆ alkoxy, preferably methoxy, R³-R⁶ are independently selected from H or SO₃H. In preferred compounds, R¹ and R⁴ or R¹ and R⁵ or R³ and R⁵ may be SO₃H. Compositions comprising or (essentially) consisting of mixtures of any of the aforementioned compounds are also envisaged.

Further, sulfonated lmw aromatic (optionally lignin-derived) compounds in accordance with the present invention may be characterized by Formula (XIV) or (XV), wherein R¹, R² and R⁴ are independently selected from H, OH or C₁-C₆ alkoxy, preferably methoxy, and R³, R⁵-R⁸ are independently selected from H oder SO₃H. In some preferred compounds, R² and R⁶ or R² and R⁷ or R¹ and R⁵ may be SO₃H.

Further preferred compounds characterized by Formula (XIV) or (XV) exhibit the following substitution pattern:

a) R¹ is SO₃H;

b) R² is SO₃H; R¹, R³ and R⁴ are optionally OH;

c) R⁶ is SO₃H; R¹ and R⁴ or R¹, R² and R⁴ are optionally OH;

d) R² and R⁶ are SO₃H; R¹ and R⁴ or R¹, R³ and R⁴ are optionally OH;

e) R³ and R⁶ are SO₃H; R¹, R² and R⁴ are optionally OH;

f) R² and R⁷ are SO₃H;

g) R¹ and R⁴ are SO₃H;

wherein each of the remaining R¹-R⁸ may be H (unless it is SO₃H or OH).

Compositions comprising or (essentially) consisting of mixtures of compounds according to a)-g) are also envisaged.

Preferred (optionally lignin-derived) sulfonated target compounds according to the present invention comprise 1,4-benzoquinone-2,5-disulfonic acid, 1,4-benzoquinone-2,6-disulfonic acid, 1,4-benzoquinone-2-sulfonic acid, 1,4-naphthoquinone-2,6-disulfonic acid, 1,4-naphthoquinone-2,7-disulfonic acid, 1,4-naphthoquinone-5,7-disulfonic acid, 1,4-naphthoquinone-5-sulfonic acid, 1,4-naphthoquinone-2-sulfonic acid, 9,10-anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonic acid, 9,10-anthraquinone-2,7-disulfonic acid, 9,10-anthraquinone-1,5-disulfonic acid, 9,10-anthraquinone-1-sulfonic acid, 9,10-anthraquinone-2-sulfonic acid, or derivatives thereof. Compositions comprising or (essentially) consisting of mixtures of said compounds (preferably comprising either benzoquinones or naphthoquinones or anthraquinones each with different derivatization patterns) are also envisaged herein.

Preferred compounds according to the invention are characterized by Formula (X) or (XI) and may exhibit a derivatization pattern as indicated in table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Preferred structures for Benzoquinone and benzohydroquinone derivatives:

C1-C6-alkoxy SO₃H substituents OH substituents substituted Alkyl substituents ID position amount position amount position amount position amount 1 R¹ Mono- — None — None — None 2 R¹-R⁴ Di- — None — None — None 3 R¹-R⁴ Tri- — None — None — None 4 R¹ Mono- — None R²-R⁴ Mono- — None 5 R¹ Mono- — None — None R²-R⁴ Mono- 6 R¹ Mono- — None R²-R⁴ Mono- R²-R⁴ Mono- 7 R¹ Mono- — None R²-R³ Di- — None 8 R¹ Mono- — None — None R²-R⁴ Di- 9 R¹ Mono- — None R²-R³ Di- R²-R⁴ Mono- 10 R¹ Mono- — None R²-R⁴ Mono- R²-R⁴ Di- 11 R¹-R⁴ Di- — None R²-R⁴ Mono- — None 12 R¹-R⁴ Di- — None — None R²-R⁴ Mono- 13 R¹-R⁴ Di- — None R²-R³ Di- — None 14 R¹-R⁴ Di- — None — None R²-R⁴ Di- 15 R¹-R⁴ Tri- — None R²-R⁴ Mono- — None 16 R¹-R⁴ Tri- — None — None R²-R⁴ Mono- Particularly preferred benzoquinone and benzohydroquinone derivatives are molecules with ID No. 1-3 and 11-16.

Preferred compounds according to the invention are characterized by Formula (XII) or (XIII) and may exhibit a derivatization pattern as indicated in table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Preferred structures for Napthoquinone and Naphthohydroquinone derivatives:

C1-C6-alkoxy SO₃H substituents OH substituents substituted Alkyl substituents ID position amount position amount position amount position amount 17 R¹, R³, R⁴ Mono- — None — None — None 18 R¹-R⁶ Di- — None — None — None 19 R¹-R⁶ Tri- — None — None — None 20 R¹-R⁶ Tetra- — None — None — None 21 R¹-R⁶ Penta- — None — None — None 22 R¹, R³, R⁴ Mono- — None R¹-R⁶ Mono- — None 23 R¹, R³, R⁴ Mono- — None — None R¹-R⁶ Mono- 24 R¹, R³, R⁴ Mono- — None R¹-R⁶ Mono- R¹-R⁶ Mono- 25 R¹, R³, R⁴ Mono- R³, R⁶ Di- — None — None 26 R¹, R³, R⁴ Mono- —- None R¹-R⁶ Di- — None 27 R¹, R³, R⁴ Mono- —- None — None R1-R⁶ Di- 28 R¹, R³, R⁴ Mono- R³, R⁶ Di- R¹⁻²-R⁴⁻⁵ Mono- — None 35 R¹, R³, R⁴ Mono- R³, R⁶ Di- — None R¹⁻²-R⁴⁻⁵ Mono- 36 R¹, R³, R⁴ Mono- R³, R⁶ Di- R¹⁻²-R⁴⁻⁵ Mono- R¹⁻²-R⁴⁻⁵ Mono- 37 R¹, R³, R⁴ Mono- R³, R⁶ Di- R¹⁻²-R⁴⁻⁵ Di- — None 38 R¹, R³, R⁴ Mono- R³, R⁶ Di- — None R¹⁻²-R⁴⁻⁵ Di- 39 R¹, R³, R⁴ Mono- R³, R⁶ Di- R¹⁻²-R⁴⁻⁵ Di- R¹⁻²-R⁴⁻⁵ Mono- 40 R¹, R³, R⁴ Mono- R³, R⁶ Di- R¹⁻²-R⁴⁻⁵ Mono- R¹⁻²-R⁴⁻⁵ Di- 35 R¹, R³, R⁴ Mono- — None R1-R⁶ Di- R¹-R⁶ Mono- 36 R¹, R³, R⁴ Mono- — None R¹-R⁶ Mono- R1-R⁶ Di- 37 R¹, R³, R⁴ Mono- — None R1-R⁶ Di- R1-R⁶ Di- 38 R¹, R³, R⁴ Mono- — None R1-R⁶ Tri- — None 39 R¹, R³, R⁴ Mono- — None — None R1-R⁶ Tri- 40 R¹, R³, R⁴ Mono- — None R1-R⁶ Tri- R¹-R⁶ Mono- 41 R¹, R³, R⁴ Mono- — None R¹-R⁶ Mono- R1-R⁶ Tri- 42 R¹, R³, R⁴ Mono- — None R1-R⁶ Tri- R¹-R⁶ Di- 43 R¹, R³, R⁴ Mono- — None R¹-R⁶ Di- R1-R⁶ Tri- 44 R¹, R³, R⁴ Mono- — None R1-R⁶ Tetra- — None 45 R¹, R³, R⁴ Mono- — None — None R1-R⁶ Tera- 46 R¹, R³, R⁴ Mono- — None R1-R⁶ Tetra- R¹-R⁶ Mono- 47 R¹, R³, R⁴ Mono- — None R¹-R⁶ Mono- R¹-R⁶ Tetra- 48 R¹-R⁶ Di- — None R¹-R⁶ Mono- — None 49 R¹-R⁶ Di- — None — None R¹-R⁶ Mono- 50 R¹-R⁶ Di- — None R¹-R⁶ Mono- R¹-R⁶ Mono- 51 R¹-R⁶ Di- R³, R⁶ Di- — None — None 52 R¹-R⁶ Di- — None R1-R⁶ Di- — None 53 R¹-R⁶ Di- — None — None R1-R⁶ Di- 54 R¹-R⁶ Di- R³, R⁶ Di- R¹⁻²-R⁴⁻⁵ Mono- — None 55 R¹-R⁶ Di- R³, R⁶ Di- — None R¹⁻²-R⁴⁻⁵ Mono- 56 R¹-R⁶ Di- R³, R⁶ Di- R¹⁻²-R⁴⁻⁵ Mono- R¹⁻²-R⁴⁻⁵ Mono- 57 R¹-R⁶ Di- R³, R⁶ Di- R¹⁻²-R⁴⁻⁵ Di- — None 58 R¹-R⁶ Di- R³, R⁶ Di- — None R¹⁻²-R⁴⁻⁵ Di- 59 R¹-R⁶ Di- — None R1-R⁶ Di- R¹-R⁶ Mono- 60 R¹-R⁶ Di- — None R¹-R⁶ Mono- R1-R⁶ Di- 61 R¹-R⁶ Di- — None R1-R⁶ Di- R1-R⁶ Di- 62 R¹-R⁶ Di- — None R1-R⁶ Tri- — None 63 R¹-R⁶ Di- — None — None R1-R⁶ Tri- 64 R¹-R⁶ Di- — None R1-R⁶ Tri- R¹-R⁶ Mono- 65 R¹-R⁶ Di- — None R¹-R⁶ Mono- R1-R⁶ Tri- 66 R¹-R⁶ Tri- — None R¹-R⁶ Mono- — None 67 R¹-R⁶ Tri- — None — None R¹-R⁶ Mono- 68 R¹-R⁶ Tri- — None R¹-R⁶ Mono- R¹-R⁶ Mono- 69 R¹-R⁶ Tri- R³, R⁶ Di- — None — None 70 R¹-R⁶ Tri- — None R1-R⁶ Di- — None 71 R¹-R⁶ Tri- — None — None R1-R⁶ Di- 72 R¹-R⁶ Tri- R³, R⁶ Di- R¹⁻²-R⁴⁻⁵ Mono- — None 73 R¹-R⁶ Tri- R³, R⁶ Di- — None R¹⁻²-R⁴⁻⁵ Mono- 74 R¹-R⁶ Tri- — None R1-R⁶ Di- R¹-R⁶ Mono- 75 R¹-R⁶ Tri- — None R¹-R⁶ Mono- R1-R⁶ Di- 76 R¹-R⁶ Tri- — None R1-R⁶ Tri- — None 77 R¹-R⁶ Tri- — None — None R1-R⁶ Tri- 78 R¹-R⁶ Tetra- — None R¹-R⁶ Mono- — None 79 R¹-R⁶ Tetra- — None — None R¹-R⁶ Mono- 80 R¹-R⁶ Tetra- — None R¹-R⁶ Mono- R¹-R⁶ Mono- 81 R¹-R⁶ Tetra- R³, R⁶ Di- — None — None 82 R¹-R⁶ Tetra- — None R1-R⁶ Di- — None 83 R¹-R⁶ Tetra- — None — None R1-R⁶ Di- 84 R¹-R⁶ Penta- — None R¹-R⁶ Mono- — None 85 R¹-R⁶ Penta- — None — None R¹-R⁶ Mono- Particularly preferred naphthoquinone and naphthohydroquinone derivatives are molecules with ID No. 17-19, 22-23, 48-49, 52-53, 59-61, 66-68, 70-71, 74-75.

Preferred compounds according to the invention are characterized by Formula (XIV) or (XV) and may exhibit a derivatization pattern as indicated in table 3 below.

TABLE 3 Preferred structures for Anthraquinone and Anthrahydroquinone Derivatives:

C1-C6-alkoxy SO₃H substituents OH substituents substituted Alkyl substituents ID position amount position amount position amount position amount 86 R¹⁻² Mono- — None — None — None 87 R¹-R⁸ Di- — None — None — None 88 R¹-R⁸ Tri- — None — None — None 89 R¹-R⁸ Tetra- — None — None — None 90 R¹-R⁸ Penta- — None — None — None 91 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None — None 92 R¹⁻² Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None 93 R¹⁻² Mono- — None — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- 94 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None 95 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- 96 R¹⁻² Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 97 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 98 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹⁻⁸ Di- — None — None 99 R¹⁻² Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Di- — None 100 R¹⁻² Mono- — None — None R¹-R⁸ Di- 101 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None 102 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- 103 R¹⁻² Mono- R³, R⁶ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 104 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- — None 105 R¹⁻² Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 106 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 107 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Di- 108 R¹⁻² Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- 109 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- 110 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Di- — None 111 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 112 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- — None R¹-R⁸ Di- 113 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- 114 R¹⁻² Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Di- 115 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Di- 116 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Di- 117 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹⁻⁸ Tri- — None — None 118 R¹⁻² Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Tri — None 119 R¹⁻² Mono- — None — None R¹-R⁸ Tri 120 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None 121 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Tri- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- 122 R¹⁻² Mono- R³, R⁶ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 123 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Di- — None 124 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Tri- — None R¹-R⁸ Di- 125 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 126 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- 127 R¹⁻² Mono- R³, R⁶ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Di- 128 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Tri- — None 129 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Tri- — None R¹-R⁸ Tri- 130 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 131 R¹⁻² Mono- R³, R⁶ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Tri- 132 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Tri- —- None 133 R¹⁻² Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 134 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R³, R⁶ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 135 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Tri- — None 136 R¹⁻² Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Di- 137 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 138 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Di- 139 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- R³, R⁶ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Di- 140 R¹⁻² Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Tri- 141 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Tri- 142 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Tri- 143 R¹⁻² Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Tri- 144 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R³, R⁶ Tri- 145 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- — None R¹-R⁸ Tri- 146 R¹⁻² Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Tri- 147 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Tri- 148 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Tri- 149 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Di- R³, R⁶ Tri- 150 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹⁻⁸ Quart- — None — None 151 R¹⁻² Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Quart- — None 152 R¹⁻² Mono- — None — None R¹-R⁸ Quart- 153 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Quart- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None 154 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Quart- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- 155 R¹⁻² Mono- R³, R⁶ Quart- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 156 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Quart- R¹-R⁸ Di- — None 157 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Quart- — None R¹-R⁸ Di- 158 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Quart- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 159 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Quart- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- 160 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Quart- R¹-R⁸ Tri- — None 161 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Quart- — None R¹-R⁸ Tri- 162 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Quart- — None 163 R¹⁻² Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Quart- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 164 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R³, R⁶ Quart- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 165 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Quart- — None 166 R¹⁻² Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Quart- R¹-R⁸ Di- 167 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Quart- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 168 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Quart- R¹-R⁸ Di- 169 R¹⁻² Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Quart- R¹-R⁸ Tri- 170 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Tri R¹-R⁸ Quart- — None 171 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Quart- 172 R¹⁻² Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Quart- 173 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R³, R⁶ Quart- 174 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- — None R¹-R⁸ Quart- 175 R¹⁻² Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Quart- 176 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Quart- 177 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Quart- 178 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Tri- — None R¹-R⁸ Quart- 179 R¹⁻² Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Quart- 180 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹⁻⁸ Pent- — None — None 181 R¹⁻² Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Pent- — None 182 R¹⁻² Mono- — None — None R1-R⁸ Pent- 183 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Pent- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None 184 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Pent- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- 185 R¹⁻² Mono- R³, R⁶ Pent- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 186 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Pent- R¹-R⁸ Di- — None 187 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Pent- — None R¹-R⁸ Di- 188 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Pent- — None 189 R¹⁻² Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Pent- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 190 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R³, R⁶ Pent- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 191 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Pent- — None 192 R¹⁻² Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Pent- R¹-R⁸ Di- 193 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Pent- 194 R¹⁻² Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Pent- 195 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R³, R⁶ Pent- 196 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- — None R¹-R⁸ Pent- 197 R¹⁻² Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Pent- 198 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹⁻⁸ Hexa- — None — None 199 R¹⁻² Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Hexa- — None 200 R¹⁻² Mono- — None — None R1-R⁸ Hexa- 201 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Hexa- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None 202 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Hexa- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- 203 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Hexa- — None 204 R¹⁻² Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Hexa- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 205 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Hexa- 206 R¹⁻² Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Hexa- 207 R¹⁻² Mono- R¹⁻⁸ Hepta- — None — None 208 R¹⁻² Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Hepta- — None 209 R¹⁻² Mono- — None — None R1-R⁸ Hepta- 210 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None — None 211 R¹⁻⁸ Di- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None 212 R¹⁻⁸ Di- — None — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- 213 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None 214 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- 215 R¹⁻⁸ Di- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 216 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 217 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹⁻⁸ Di- — None — None 218 R¹⁻⁸ Di- — None R¹-R⁸ Di- — None 219 R¹⁻⁸ Di- — None — None R1-R⁸ Di- 220 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None 221 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Di- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- 223 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R³, R⁶ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 224 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- — None 225 R¹⁻⁸ Di- — None R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 226 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 227 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Di- 228 R¹⁻⁸ Di- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- 229 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- 230 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Di- — None 231 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 232 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Di- — None R¹-R⁸ Di- 233 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- 234 R¹⁻⁸ Di- — None R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Di- 235 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Di- 236 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Di- 237 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹⁻⁸ Tri- — None — None 238 R¹⁻⁸ Di- — None R¹-R⁸ Tri — None 239 R¹⁻⁸ Di- — None — None R1-R⁸ Tri 240 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None 241 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Tri- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- 242 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R³, R⁶ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 243 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Di- — None 244 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Tri- — None R¹-R⁸ Di- 245 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 246 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- 247 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Tri- — None 248 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Tri- — None R¹-R⁸ Tri- 248 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Tri- — None 249 R¹⁻⁸ Di- — None R¹-R⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 250 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R³, R⁶ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 251 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Tri- — None 252 R¹⁻⁸ Di- — None R¹-R⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Di- 253 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 254 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Di- 255 R¹⁻⁸ Di- — None R¹-R⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Tri- 256 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Tri- 257 R¹⁻⁸ Di- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Tri- 258 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R³, R⁶ Tri- 259 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Di- — None R¹-R⁸ Tri- 260 R¹⁻⁸ Di- — None R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Tri- 261 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Tri- 262 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Tri- 263 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹⁻⁸ Quart- — None — None 264 R¹⁻⁸ Di- — None R¹-R⁸ Quart- — None 265 R¹⁻⁸ Di- — None — None R1-R⁸ Quart- 266 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Quart- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None 267 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Quart- —- None R¹-R⁸ Mono- 268 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R³, R⁶ Quart- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 269 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Quart- R¹-R⁸ Di- — None 270 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Quart- — None R¹-R⁸ Di- 271 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Quart- — None 272 R¹⁻⁸ Di- — None R¹-R⁸ Quart- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 273 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R³, R⁶ Quart- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 274 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Quart- — None 275 R¹⁻⁸ Di- — None R¹-R⁸ Quart- R¹-R⁸ Di- 276 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Quart- 277 R¹⁻⁸ Di- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Quart- 278 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R³, R⁶ Quart- 279 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Di- — None R¹-R⁸ Quart- 280 R¹⁻⁸ Di- — None R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Quart- 281 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹⁻⁸ Pent- — None — None 282 R¹⁻⁸ Di- — None R¹-R⁸ Pent- — None 283 R¹⁻⁸ Di- — None — None R1-R⁸ Pent- 284 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Pent- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None 285 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Pent- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- 286 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Pent- — None 287 R¹⁻⁸ Di- — None R¹-R⁸ Pent- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 288 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Pent- 289 R¹⁻⁸ Di- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Pent- 290 R¹⁻⁸ Di- R¹⁻⁸ Hexa- — None — None 291 R¹⁻⁸ Di- — None R¹-R⁸ Hexa- — None 292 R¹⁻⁸ Di- — None — None R1-R⁸ Hexa- 293 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None — None 294 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None 295 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- — None — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- 296 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None 297 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- 298 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 299 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 300 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- R¹⁻⁸ Di- — None — None 301 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- — None R¹-R⁸ Di- — None 302 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- — None — None R1-R⁸ Di- 303 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None 304 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Di- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- 305 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- R³, R⁶ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 306 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- — None 307 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- — None R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 308 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 309 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Di- 310 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- 311 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- 312 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Di- — None 313 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 314 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Di- — None R¹-R⁸ Di- 315 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- 316 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- — None R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Di- 317 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Di- 318 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- R¹⁻⁸ Tri- — None — None 319 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- — None R¹-R⁸ Tri — None 320 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- — None — None R1-R⁸ Tri 321 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None 323 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Tri- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- 324 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- R³, R⁶ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 325 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Di- — None 326 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Tri- — None R¹-R⁸ Di- 327 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Tri- — None 328 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- — None R¹-R⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Mono 329 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R³, R⁶ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Mono 330 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Tri- — None 331 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- — None R¹-R⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Di- 332 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Tri- 333 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Tri- 334 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R³, R⁶ Tri- 335 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Di- — None R¹-R⁸ Tri- 336 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- — None R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Tri- 337 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- R¹⁻⁸ Quart- — None — None 338 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- — None R¹-R⁸ Quart- — None 339 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- — None — None R¹-R⁸ Quart- 340 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Quart- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None 341 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Quart- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- 342 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Quart- — None 343 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- — None R¹-R⁸ Quart- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 344 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Quart- 345 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Quart- 346 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- R¹⁻⁸ Pent- — None — None 347 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- — None R¹-R⁸ Pent- — None 348 R¹⁻⁸ Tri- — None — None R1-R⁸ Pent- 348 R¹⁻⁸ Quart- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None — None 349 R¹⁻⁸ Quart- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None 350 R¹⁻⁸ Quart- — None — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- 351 R¹⁻⁸ Quart- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None 352 R¹⁻⁸ Quart- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- 353 R¹⁻⁸ Quart- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 354 R¹⁻⁸ Quart- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 355 R¹⁻⁸ Quart- R¹⁻⁸ Di- — None — None 356 R¹⁻⁸ Quart- — None R¹-R⁸ Di- — None 357 R¹⁻⁸ Quart- — None — None R1-R⁸ Di- 358 R¹⁻⁸ Quart- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None 359 R¹⁻⁸ Quart- R¹-R⁸ Di- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- 360 R¹⁻⁸ Quart- R³, R⁶ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 361 R¹⁻⁸ Quart- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- — None 362 R¹⁻⁸ Quart- — None R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 363 R¹⁻⁸ Quart- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 364 R¹⁻⁸ Quart- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Di- 365 R¹⁻⁸ Quart- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- 366 R¹⁻⁸ Quart- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- 367 R¹⁻⁸ Quart- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Di- — None 368 R¹⁻⁸ Quart- R¹-R⁸ Di- — None R¹-R⁸ Di- 369 R¹⁻⁸ Quart- — None R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Di- 370 R¹⁻⁸ Quart- R¹⁻⁸ Tri- — None — None 371 R¹⁻⁸ Quart- — None R¹-R⁸ Tri — None 372 R¹⁻⁸ Quart- — None — None R1-R⁸ Tri 373 R¹⁻⁸ Quart- R¹-R⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None 374 R¹⁻⁸ Quart- R¹-R⁸ Tri- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- 375 R¹⁻⁸ Quart- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Tri- — None 376 R¹⁻⁸ Quart- — None R¹-R⁸ Tri- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 377 R¹⁻⁸ Quart- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Tri- 378 R¹⁻⁸ Quart- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Tri- 379 R¹⁻⁸ Quart- R¹⁻⁸ Quart- — None — None 380 R¹⁻⁸ Quart- — None R¹-R⁸ Quart- — None 381 R¹⁻⁸ Quart- — None — None R1-R⁸ Quart- 382 R¹⁻⁸ Penta- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None — None 383 R¹⁻⁸ Penta- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None 384 R¹⁻⁸ Penta- — None — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- 385 R¹⁻⁸ Penta- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None 386 R¹⁻⁸ Penta- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- 387 R¹⁻⁸ Penta- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 388 R¹⁻⁸ Penta- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 389 R¹⁻⁸ Penta- R¹⁻⁸ Di- — None — None 390 R¹⁻⁸ Penta- — None R¹-R⁸ Di- — None 391 R¹⁻⁸ Penta- — None — None R1-R⁸ Di- 392 R¹⁻⁸ Penta- R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None 393 R¹⁻⁸ Penta- R¹-R⁸ Di- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- 394 R¹⁻⁸ Penta- R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- — None 395 R¹⁻⁸ Penta- — None R¹-R⁸ Di- R¹-R⁸ Mono- 396 R¹⁻⁸ Penta- R¹-R⁸ Mono- — None R¹-R⁸ Di- 397 R¹⁻⁸ Penta- — None R¹-R⁸ Mono- R¹-R⁸ Di- 398 R¹⁻⁸ Penta- R¹⁻⁸ Tri- — None — None 399 R¹⁻⁸ Penta- — None R¹-R⁸ Tri — None 400 R¹⁻⁸ Penta- — None — None R1-R⁸ Tri Particularly preferred anthraquinone and anthrahydroquinoen derivatives are molecules with ID No. 87-89, 92-93, 96, 98-103, 107-110, 112, 118, 211-212, 215, 217-230, 232, 234, 236-238, 241, 249, 263-264, 294-295, 298, 300-310, 312, 314, 316, 318-319, 328, and 337-338.

Preferably, compositions according to the present invention comprise or (essentially) consists of at least two sulfonated (optionally lignin-derived) low molecular weight (aromatic) compounds as defined herein (preferably a mixture thereof), wherein said compounds exhibit alternative substitution patterns.

Specifically, the composition according to the invention may comprise at least two sulfonated low molecular weight aromatic compounds are characterized by the following:

(a) at least one compound according to Formula (X) and (XI) as defined herein;

(b) at least one compound according to Formula (XII) and (XIII) as defined herein; or

(c) at least one compound according to Formula (XIV) and (XIV as defined herein.

In particular, the composition may comprise

(a) at least two compounds according to Formula (X) and (XI), wherein said at least two compounds are distinctly sulfonated and/or substituted;

(b) at least two compounds according to Formula (XII) or (XIII), wherein said at least two compounds are distinctly sulfonated and/or substituted; or

(c) at least two compounds according to Formula (XIV) or (XV), wherein said at least two compounds are distinctly sulfonated and/or substituted.

The composition may comprise at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more compounds as defined above. Said compounds may preferably each comprise at least two SO₃H groups. “Distinctly sulfonated” means that said compounds exhibit a different sulfonation pattern (i.e. different residues R in the Formulae (X)-(XV) represent SO₃H groups). The compounds may however also exhibit the same sulfonation pattern but have an otherwise distinct substitution pattern (e.g. different residues R in the Formulae (X)-(XV) represent, e.g., OH or C₁₋₆ alkoxy groups).

The present inventors further discovered that compositions comprising or (essentially) consisting of mixtures of sulfonated (optionally lignin-derived) lmw (aromatic) compounds as defined herein (said compounds comprising different basic structural formulae and/or preferably different substitutions patterns), exhibit electrochemical properties enabling their use as redox flow battery electrolytes. The present invention thus inter alia has the advantage of superseding elaborate purification steps in order to provide essentially “pure” electrolytes rather than crude mixtures thereof. A lignin-derived (or other) composition (preferably obtained by a method as disclosed herein) comprising suitable unsulfonated precursor compounds can thus as a whole be subjected to a sulfonation reaction, yielding a composition comprising (at least one or a mixture of) sulfonated lmw (aromatic) compounds. They can be employed as a ready-to-use product in redox flow batteries, or can be utilized for various other applications. In contrast, state-of-the art technologies rely on the use of only one redox active species that has to be provided essentially purified.

As indicated above, the compositions and compounds described throughout the present specification (including both precursor and target compositions/compounds) may be “lignin-derived” (“derived from lignin”). Thereby, compositions and compounds can advantageously be obtained from lignin or lignin derivatives that typically occur as by-products of the pulping industry. It is however also conceivable to provide suitable precursor (and ultimately target) compounds from fossil resources, including crude oil and coal, or from pure organic substances.

“Lignin” is generally understood herein as wood-derived heterogeneous phenolic macromolecule or, rather, a group of phenolic macromolecules of plant origin, which is or are composed of different monomeric building blocks. Hence, it is understood to be a natural copolymer. More specifically, lignin may be generally defined as an amorphous three-dimensional polymer, which is mainly and naturally composed of phenolic building blocks. Lignin in its “native” state, i.e. as part of the natural lignocellulosic material, is the starting material of the inventive method for any “modified lignin” and, subsequently, any “lignin-derived” compositions or compounds as described herein as product of the inventive methods.

Lignin typically comprises p-coumaryl, coniferyl and sinapyl alcohol as the phenolic building blocks, which are linked (randomly) with ether (C—O—C) bonds, such as “beta-O-4”, “4-O-5” and, to a less frequent extent, “1-O-4”. The most frequently seen covalent linkage in natural softwood and hardwood lignin is typically the “beta-O-4” bond, which accounts, e.g., for approximately 45-50% of all bonds in spruce and up to 60% in birch. Additionally, carbon-carbon (C—C) linkages may occur in natural lignin, such as “5-5”, “beta-5”, “beta-beta” and “beta-1”, amongst which the “5-5” linkage is the most frequently seen C—C linkage, in particular in softwood, such as spruce. Typical linkages as “beta-O-4”, “4-O-5” and “5-5” are depicted in the following:

A “building block” as a base unit (derived from lignin) as used herein may preferably be understood as an organic moiety, which comprises at least one bond to covalently link said building block to another building block of the same or different chemical structure to form a plurality of covalently associated building blocks. Preferably, a building block according to the present invention is a “phenolic building block”, i.e. any moiety comprising a six-membered aromatic ring, covalently functionalized by at least one hydroxyl group (—OH). Hence, the lignin “building block” is typically characterized by a monocyclic, typically an aromatic moiety, with the monocycle typically being substituted at at least one position. Typically, each lignin building block exhibits a carbocyclic monocycle with one or two substituents acting as linkers to another building block and one or two substituents, which do not exhibit any linking function. A building block corresponds to a “monomer”. A “dimer” as used herein typically comprises two such building blocks covalently linked. Thus, the dimer is typically characterized by two isolated monocyclic moieties covalently linked by a linker group or by a bond (biphenylic ring system). Biphenylic ring systems (as characteristic moiety of dimers) occur with lower frequency in plant lignin, in some plants (e.g. in spruce) with higher frequency. More generally, any such dimeric compounds belong to the class of bicycles.

A larger plurality of any such covalently connected or linked building blocks forms typically the larger 3-dimensional lignin structure. In the context of the present invention, a “polymer” refers to a natural lignin molecule as it occurs in plants, e.g. as part of lignocellulosic material. The lignin polymer is typically a copolymer of distinct building blocks. Natural lignin's “building block” corresponds to a “monomer”. Accordingly, a building block typically is a (repeating) structural part of the natural polymer lignin. The (phenolic) building block has typically 9 carbon atoms (C₉) or, less frequently seen, 8 carbon atoms (C₈). Typically, the building blocks have a molecular weight of about 130 to 300 Da, preferably of 150 to 250 Da, more preferably of 160 to 190 Da. Preferably, their basic monomeric C₉ or C₈ structure is not altered in the course of the natural lignin modifying process by e.g. pulping. Such building blocks may serve as the basic unit in their chemistry, providing aromatic organic target compounds according to the present invention.

As used herein, the term “lignin-derived” has the broadest meaning with regard to any lignin, which underwent one or more process steps, from process step (1) onwards, according to the present invention. Therein, a “derived” material has to be understood as a chemical derivative. A “lignin-derived” material may be of any molecular weight smaller than the natural lignin polymer, including a small molecule, i.e. a low molecular weight compound as used herein. In this regard, both “modified lignin-derived components” and “lignin-derived compounds” according to the present invention are lignin-derived material. Accordingly, a “lignin-derived” modified lignin-derived component or a (target or precursor) compound as defined herein, is a (macro-)molecule, which corresponds to or is derived from a (monomeric) building block of natural lignin or is a homo- or heterodimers of such (monomeric) building blocks. Such compounds are derived from natural lignin via its modification in step (1.2) onwards, which provides the fraction of modified lignin-derived components as intermediates of the inventive method. Subsequently, a chemical decomposition step (3) provides lignin-derived low molecular weight precursor compounds that are subjected to a sulfonation step (5) to yield lignin-derived low molecular weight aromatic target compounds according to the invention. “Lignin-derived” compositions are thus comprising or (essentially) consisting of lignin-derived compounds.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method for producing sulfonated lmw (aromatic) compounds and compositions derived from lignin, fossil resources (such as crude oil or coal) or pure substances. An inventive method for preparing the desired target compounds and compositions from lignin is described in greater detail in the following.

Preparation of Lignin-Derived Composition

The lignin-derived sulfonated target compounds and/or target composition which may be used according to the present invention are preferably obtained by a process comprising the following steps: In a first step (1), lignocellulosic material is subjected to a pulping process; yielding modified lignin-derived components. Said modified lignin-derived components are isolated in a second step (2) and in a third step (3) subjected to a chemical decomposition; whereby at least one low molecular weight lignin-derived precursor compound is obtained. In a fourth step (4), said at least one precursor compound is isolated and optionally modified, before being subjected in a fifth step (5) to a sulfonation reaction, whereby one or more —SO₃H-groups are introduced as substituents into said at least one precursor compound. Thereby, a sulfonated lmw aromatic ligni-derived target compound (or a composition comprising the same or (essentially) consisting thereof) is obtained. Said compound or composition are envisaged for use as redox flow battery electrolytes. Each single step of the inventive method leading to the provision of the desired target compound or composition are discussed in greater detail below.

Step (1): Pulping of Lignocellulosic Material and Provision of Modified Lignin-Derived Components

By step (1) of the inventive method, lignocellulosic material is subjected to a pulping process to yield modified lignin-derived components. That step typically involves the following sub-steps: Provision of lignocellulosic material (1.1), pulping of said lignocellulosic material (1.2) and separating the pulp from the resulting modified lignin-derived components (1.3).

Sub-Step (1.1): Provision of Lignocellulosic Material

In step (1.1) of the inventive method, lignocellulosic material is provided. Preferably, said lignocellulosic material is chopped.

“lignocellulosic material”, understood to be the starting material for the method of the present invention, may be provided as any form of plant biomass, which naturally comprises cellulose, lignin and hemicellulose. Therein, cellulose (a polysaccharide consisting of a linear chain of several hundred to many thousands of beta(1→4) linked D-glucose units) typically forms a scaffold of fibers together with hemicellulose. Lignin (as defined above) is typically embedded within this scaffold, typically without being covalently linked to cellulose and/or hemicellulose. “Hemicellulose” is any of several heteropolymeric polysaccharides, which include xylan, glucuronoxylan, arabinoxylan, glucomannan, and xyloglucan. It is typically present along with cellulose in almost all plant cell walls. In contrast to cellulose, hemicellulose usually has a random, amorphous structure with little strength.

The lignocellulosic material may be derived from any appropriate plant origin, e.g. wood, fiber crops or waste paper origin. In case waste paper is used as starting material for the inventive method, such waste paper is typically of lower paper quality, such as newspaper paper. It usually comprises higher amounts of residual lignin, while higher quality paper is typically lignin-free. Field crop fiber or agricultural residues (instead of wood fiber) may be preferred as being of more sustainable nature. However, wood is the preferred renewable source, with about 90 percent of pulp originating from wood plantations or reforested areas. Non-wood fiber sources may be employed by the inventive method as well (as far as it is for global pulp production), for a variety of reasons, including seasonal availability, problems with chemical recovery, brightness of the pulp etc. Non-wood pulp processing, however, usually requires more water and energy than wood pulp pressing.

Lignocellulosic material of known and invariant character is preferred, such that the inventive method's downstream products remain essentially unaltered, preferably provided in the form of chopped lignocellulosic material, e.g. in the form of wood chips. “Chopped” lignocellulosic material is understood—by the present invention—to be advantageously mechanically processed starting from plant material of natural origin, such that it is chopped to smaller pieces. Said lignocellulosic material is typically processed by any form of grinding, crushing and/or milling, which results in smaller pieces of the lignocellulosic material, i.e. the chopped lignocellulosic material, which is preferred in the context of the present invention. It may be preferred to employ lignocellulosic material with a lignin content of at least 15%, more preferred of at least 20%, most preferred of 20 to 35%.

The lignocellulosic material used as a starting material is preferably provided in the form of woodchips. “Woodchips” are understood as a medium-sized solid material made by cutting, or chipping, larger pieces of wood. Characteristic values (such as water content, ash content, particle size distribution, bulk density, nitrogen content, chlorine content) are preferably chosen such that they fulfill generally accepted provisions, such as the European Standard EN 14961. Wood chips as typically used for chemical pulping processes are preferably used for the inventive method as well as they are usually relatively uniform in size and substantially free of bark. The optimum size may vary with the wood species. Preferred sizes of the main fraction are about 3 to 45 mm with a fine fraction, defined as particles below 1 mm, of preferably less than 5%. Common wood chips used in pulp production, which are preferred in the method of the present invention, are on average 12-25 mm (0.47-0.98 in) long and 2-10 mm (0.079-0.394 in) thick. Damage of the wood fibers is preferably avoided, as fibers free of physical defects are advantageous for the pulp properties. As the method of the present invention shares the same starting material as the pulping process, the starting material should satisfy the requirements of both the inventive method as a whole and the pulping process. For roundwood it is most common to use disk chippers. Therein, “roundwood” is understood as industrial roundwood, which is commonly defined, e.g., in the FAO Forest Products Yearbook to include all industrial wood (e.g. sawlogs and veneer logs, pulpwood and other industrial roundwood) and marketed forms, such as chips, particles or wood residues.

Accordingly, the lignocellulosic material may preferably be derivable of wood of low silica and resin content, more preferably derivable from northern woods, more preferably be derivable from the group consisting of beech, pine, birch, eucalyptus, grasses and spruce, wherein the lignocellulosic material is preferably chopped, and wherein the lignocellulosic material is more preferably provided in the form of woodchips.

Sub-Step (1.2): Pulping

In sub-step (1.2) of the inventive method, lignocellulosic material (preferably as provided in step (1.1)) is subjected to a pulping process. Thereby, the lignocellulosic material is preferably subjected to (a) a Kraft process or (b) a sulfite process as described herein. A “pulping process” is understood in the context of the present invention as process of chemically and/or mechanically disjoining cellulose fibers from other constituents of the lignocellulosic starting material of the pulping process, such as any wood, fiber crops or waste paper. Said pulping process preferably yields pulp and modified lignin-derived components. “Pulp” is understood herein to essentially comprise a mixture of (preferably pure/enriched) cellulosic fibrous material, which does not contain lignin or lignin-derived components or contains only minor residual amounts of lignin components (e.g. as impurities of the cellulosic fibrous material).

In contrast to pulping processes employed for manufacturing of pulp (wherein modified lignin-derived components are generally considered by-products), the inventive method aims to valorize lignin and lignin derivatives by providing useful lignin-derived redox active species. Thus, in the inventive method, modified lignin-derived components are considered intermediates whereas pulp is the by-product.

The “pulping process” (also referred to as “pulp and/or paper manufacturing process”) is typically a commercially established process for the production of pulp and/or paper in a pulp and/or paper manufacturing plant. A pulping process provides the preferably pure cellulosic fibrous material (pulp). Being typically in the form of fibers, pulp is usually not dissolved, but dispersed or suspended in the liquid employed in the pulping process. Due to its fibrous form, pulp is typically separated by sub-step (1.3) of the inventive method as fibrous material, preferably by mechanical means, such as sieves and/or centrifuges, from the method's process stream, which contains the (preferably dissolved, suspended and/or dispersed) fraction of lignin-derived material and which is further processed by step (2).

It is typically the aim of any “pulping process” to allow disintegration of wood into fibrous cellulosic material, lignin and hemicellulose products. This is achieved by breaking covalent bonds of 3-dimensional polymeric lignin macromolecules. Carbon to carbon (C—C) bonds are more stable than oxygen-carbon bonds (C—O) under conditions typically applied for bond breaking by the “cooking” sub-step (c) of the inventive method. Thus, cleavage of oxygen-carbon bonds is the most prevalent and important reaction in any typical pulping process described herein as sub-step (1.2). Thereby, cooking under alkaline conditions in the Kraft process, under acidic conditions in the sulfite process and in organic solvents in the organosolv process allows to break oxygen-carbon bonds of lignin. Typically, any such reaction of sub-step (1.2) produces modified products characterized by phenolic hydroxyl groups due to cleavage of natural lignin's aryl-alkyl-ether bonds. The modified lignin-derived components as modified products of the pulping process, i.e. “the modified lignin-derived components”, are of lower molecular size than the polymeric lignin starting material (natural lignin). Furthermore, such lower molecular weight lignin-derived polymers are usually more soluble or dispersible than natural lignin in the process stream leaving the pulping process of sub-step (1.2). From that process stream non-dissolved or non-dispersed pulp, which usually is the target product of any commercial pulping process, may readily be separated from dissolved and/or suspended modified lignin-derived components (as realized by sub-step (1.3) of the inventive method).

The present invention is characterized by the advantage that it may readily employ by its sub-step (1.2) existing plants for pulp production. It is characterized by enabling commercial use of lignin (in the art typically regarded as the major undesired by-product of pulp production) to provide lignin-derived sulfonated low molecular weight aromatic compounds as redox flow battery electrolytes. If required, the present invention may also use a smaller portion of the lignin-derived fraction of sub-step (1.2) as energy source either for the pulp production or for further downstream steps. The present invention is, however, unprecedented, as it enables lignin (as abundantly available and renewable natural material) to become the starting material for the provision of a large diversity of organic compounds usable in redox flow batteries.

Distinct pulping processes may be used as a matter of choice to provide feedstocks for obtaining the lignin-derived components as intermediates of the method of the present invention. The pulping process separates the principle components of the lignocellulosic material, degrades the polymers to smaller compounds and occasionally causes other chemical transformation, depending from the method employed.

The employed pulping processes may preferably be those overly used in the pulp and paper industries (i.e., Kraft or sulfite process) or other processes such as organosolv. Each process type has its advantages and disadvantages. The choice of the employed pulping process of the inventive method may depend on the type of lignin-derived components which are subsequently processed into valuable target compounds. The choice of the particular pulping process may thereby determine the target compositions and compounds obtainable by the inventive method.

Accordingly, the pulping process of sub-step (1.2) may preferably be selected from the group consisting of Kraft process, sulfite process, organosolv process, and lignin pyrolysis process. Other processes for separating lignin and cellulose components from lignocellulosic starting material (as described herein and known in the art) may also be used for the reaction of sub-step (1.2) to arrive at a (modified) lignin-derived fraction. The Kraft process or, alternatively, the sulfite process are particularly preferred pulping processes employed in sub-step (1.2) for the method of the invention.

Both the Kraft process (a) and the sulfite process (b) are widely known from the aforementioned applications and are applied accordingly by the inventive method. They allow to separate cellulosic fibrous material (pulp), which is the target material in the production of pulp and/or paper, from other non-cellulosic wood components, in particular lignin or, rather, the (modified) lignin-derived components. For the inventive method, “pulp” is neither a target product nor an intermediate. Rather, the target of sub-step (1.2) is the provision of lignin as the other major wood component, preferably in its modified, advantageously soluble form (“modified lignin-derived components”). Typically, the present invention processes modified lignin-derived components, such as “Kraft lignin”, “sulfonated Kraft lignin” or “lignosulfonate”, upon separation of the cellulose fraction, as an intermediate of the inventive method.

(a) Kraft Process

The “Kraft process” is by far the most prevalent pulping process worldwide. It is typically a high pH pulping process in aqueous solution (typically aqueous sodium hydroxide) containing one or more of salt or non-salt agents selected from sulfide, sulfhydryl and polysulfide. It usually further comprises a sulfate salt. Accordingly, the Kraft process (a) is typically a higher pH pulping process in the presence of an aqueous solution containing one or more of salt or non-salt agents selected from the group consisting of sulfide, sulfhydryl and polysulfide. One or more sulfate salt(s) is/are typically added as well.

Despite the sulfides employed, relatively little sulfur is typically contained in the product stream following pulping. The Kraft process is versatile in terms of the lignocellulosic starting material, which is treated in aqueous solution at elevated temperature and pressure. It is energy efficient and recycles most of the employed reactive agents, such as reactive agents required for the pulping process. Said process yields “Kraft lignin”. Typically, the modified lignin-derived components (Kraft lignin) have a molecular weight of about 2.000 to 5.000 Da, preferably 2.000 to 3.000 Da. They may be components of the natural 3-D lignin polymers, potentially further chemically functionalized by the introduction of additional functional groups and linkages (e.g. stilbenes). The process chemistry surrounding Kraft process including a description of the ways in which lignin linkages are disrupted during the process are described in Chakar and Ragauskas Ind Crops Prod 2004, 20, 131. Gierer et al. (Wood Sci Technol. 1985, 19, 289 and Wood Sci Technol. 1986, 20, 1) describes the structural changes that occur to lignin as a result of chemical bleaching during the Kraft process.

The Kraft process may be carried out as sub-step (1.2) alternative (a) according to the inventive method. The Kraft process may preferably comprise the sub-steps of (i) optionally pre-steaming the (preferably chopped) lignocellulosic material, wherein the (preferably chopped) lignocellulosic material is advantageously wetted and preheated with steam, (ii) adding (preferably chopped) lignocellulosic material to an aqueous alkaline solution comprising Kraft pulping agents, one or more of the agents preferably selected from the group consisting of a sulfide salt, a sulfhydryl agent (in particular a sulfhydryl compound or salt), a polysulfide salt (and, typically, at least one sulfate salt is additionally comprised by the alkaline solution as well), (iii) cooking the (preferably chopped) lignocellulosic material, which is provided (e.g. suspended and/or dispersed)) in said aqueous alkaline solution, and (iv) optionally sulfonating the lignocellulosic material in the presence, e.g. of sulfuric acid solution and/or sulfur trioxide.

Step (i): Pre-Steaming

By optional sub-step (i) of the Kraft process, preferably chopped lignocellulosic material (such as woodchips) may be pre-treated with hot steam. Thereby, preferably chopped lignocellulosic material is wetted and heated, which typically renders it more susceptible to adsorb treatment solutions as applied by subsequent sub-step (ii). Cavities of fresh wood are filled with fluids and/or air. Steam pre-treatment causes the air to expand. About 25% of the air and/or other fluids naturally occupying the cavities is thereby expelled from these cavities.

Step (ii): Addition of Kraft Pulping Agents

By sub-step (ii) of the applied Kraft process, the optionally pre-treated, i.e. pre-steamed and pre-heated, preferably chopped lignocellulosic material is treated, preferably at elevated temperatures, with an aqueous alkaline solution (“treatment solution”). Typically, the lignocellulosic material is added to the treatment solution. Said solution typically comprises at least one chemically reactive agent for the Kraft process to operate. The treatment solution may be a liquor known in the art as “white liquor”. The employed reactive agents may adjust the pH and/or provide nucleophilic sulfide (S²⁻) and/or bisulfide (HS⁻) ions and/or moieties. Typically, said treatment solution comprises a mixture of chemically reactive agents generally used for Kraft pulping to provide nucleophilic sulfide and/or bisulfide ion or moiety for rupturing the embedment of lignin in the cellulose scaffold of natural lignin. The reactive sulfur containing agents are usually provided as (dissolved) salts, but they may also be provided as non-salt agents, e.g. as (dissolved) organic compounds, which comprise one or more sulphur or sulphur-based chemical functionalities. Generally, any suitable reactive agent known in the art for use in the impregnation and cooking step of the Kraft process may be employed according to the present invention. Other than the sulfur containing reagents, further agents added to the solution in step (1.2) in lower amounts are typically one or more of sodium carbonate, sodium sulfate, sodium thiosulfate, sodium chloride, and calcium carbonate.

Preferably, either of the sulfide and/or sulfate salt comprised in the alkaline solution used in the Kraft process according to (a) is a salt with a cationic counter ion preferably selected from the group consisting of sodium, calcium, magnesium and ammonium. The sulfhydryl and/or polysulfide agent employed by the Kraft process according to (a) is preferably an organic, non-salt agent.

By sub-step (ii) of the Kraft process, the preferably chopped lignocellulosic material is typically initially saturated with the aqueous alkaline solution, e.g. with the fresh (“white liquor”) treatment solution or with its recycled equivalent (“black liquor”). The step is preferably designated as the “impregnation step”, which may be performed before the chopped lignocellulosic material is forwarded to the vessel for the cooking process (sub-step (iii)) to occur within the vessel. For sub-step (ii), the preferably chopped lignocellulosic material is typically not exposed to elevated temperatures (corresponding to the cooking temperature), but just “pre-treated”. Accordingly, the material is not or only gently heated for that pre-treatment step.

Additional reactive agents may be added to the treatment solution to improve the Kraft impregnation of e.g. the employed wood chips with the cooking liquor. Anthraquinone may be used as such an additive. It typically acts as a redox catalyst by oxidizing cellulose and reducing lignin. It protects cellulose from its degradation and makes the lignin component of the starting material more water-soluble. Further, an emulsion breaker may be added in an optional soap separation step to expedite and improve the separation of soap from the cooking liquors by flocculation, once they have been used. Soap, such as rosin soap, generally forms as by-product of the Kraft process. The soap typically floats at the surface of the aqueous liquid and has to be skimmed off. The collected soap may be further processed to tall oil. Advantageously, defoamers may be employed to remove eventually formed foam and foster the pulp production process. Drainage of washing equipment gives cleaner pulp. Dispersing agents, detackifiers and/or complexing agents preferably allow to keep the process vessels cleaner and to reduce the number of maintenance operations. Fixation agents may be used to allow finely dispersed material to be deposited on the fibers, thereby allowing such material to be readily eliminated.

Generally, aqueous alkaline solution (“liquor”) used for impregnation may be applied for the cooking step as well. Hence, the aqueous alkaline solution (treatment solution) used for impregnation in sub-step (ii) in the Kraft process—and likewise the corresponding aqueous acidic solution for the sulfite process—is defined as “cooking liquor” in sub-step (iii). By impregnation in sub-step (ii), the treatment solution (or “cooking liquor”) preferably penetrates into the capillary structure of the chopped lignocellulosic material, such that initial reactions with the wood components start at low temperature conditions. Intensive impregnation supports the provision of a homogeneous cook and low rejects. Thereby, a larger portion of lignin is yielded as soluble “Kraft lignin”. Usually, about 40-60% of all alkaline pulping liquor is consumed for the continuous type Kraft process in its initial impregnation step.

Preferably, the pH of the aqueous alkaline solution in sub-step (ii) of the Kraft process according to (a) is >10. More preferably, the pH in sub-step (ii) of of the Kraft process according to (a) is >12. The temperature of the aqueous alkaline solution in sub-step (ii) of the Kraft process according to (a) is typically less than 100° C., e.g. in the range from 70° C. to 90° C.

Step (iii): Cooking

By sub-step (iii) of the Kraft process according to (a) of the inventive method, the pre-treated (impregnated) preferably chopped lignocellulosic material is cooked in said aqueous alkaline treatment solution as required. The cooking period may depend on the reaction conditions, i.e. the pH, pressure and temperature, and may further depend on the type and strength of the employed chopped lignocellulosic material. For Kraft processing, the material is cooked for several hours, e.g. 3 to 9 hours. Essentially, the Kraft process breaks natural lignin's internal ether bonds by nucleophilic attack of sulfide (S²⁻) and/or bisulfide (HS⁻) ions or moieties. The function of sulfide in the Kraft process may be two-fold: It may promote and accelerate the cleavage of ether bonds between neighbouring building blocks of lignin's 3-dimensional polymeric structure and it reduces the extent of undesirable condensation.

Preferably, sub-step (iii) of the Kraft process is carried out in a pressurized vessel (“digester”) for at least 2 hours at a temperature of at least 150° C. Under such conditions, pulp and modified lignin-derived components may be separated from each other. Sub-step (iii) of the Kraft process is preferably carried out at a pressure of at least 4 bar in the pressurized vessel, preferably at 5 to 10 bar. A pressurized vessel is typically a digester as it is commonly used in the art of chemical pulping.

It is preferred that sub-step (iii) of the Kraft process is carried out at a temperature of 150 to 190° C., preferably 170 to 180° C. Such temperatures typically provide higher yields (by improved separation of the lignin and the cellulosic fraction) and process efficiency. Increasing the temperatures significantly beyond 200° C., in particular in combination with the applied overpressure may lead to undesired excessive degradation of the lignin and/or the cellulosic fraction and is unfavorable in terms of energy consumption.

Sub-step (iii) of the Kraft process is preferably carried out for 2 to 24 hours, preferably 3 to 5 hours. Such conditions typically enable satisfying yields, while still ensuring overall process efficiency. Under such conditions of the Kraft process, lignin polymers and hemicellulose are sufficiently degraded, such that their lower molecular weight (lower than the starting material's natural lignin and hemicellulose) degradation products are released from the cellulose scaffold as a result of the cooking step. Such lower molecular weight degradation products are typically more soluble in (strongly) basic solution than the polymers of the lignocellulosic starting material.

Sub-step (iii) of the Kraft process may be carried out either in a batch mode or in a continuous mode. For the continuous mode, the lignocellulosic starting material is fed into a digester at a rate, which allows the pulping reaction to be complete by the time the materials exit the reactor. The continuous mode is preferred to ensure higher throughput and improved efficiency. Digesters producing 1.000 tons or more of pulp per day are common and may be used according to the inventive method.

The modified lignin-derived components obtained from sub-step (iii) of the Kraft process are commonly known as “Kraft lignin”. These components are essentially unsulfonated or at least less sulfonated than “lignosulfonate” resulting from the sulfite process according to alternative (b) of sub-step (1.2). Typically, they are more soluble in aqueous alkaline solution, preferably at a pH of greater than about 9 and reasonably soluble in strongly polar organic solvents. The average molecular weight of the lignin-derived components is generally between 1.000 and 4.000 Da, preferably 2.000 to 3.000 Da. Usually, the average component of that lignin-derived fraction comprises about 10 to 35 building blocks, preferably 10 to 25 building blocks, and thus, may have a “polymerization degree” of 10 to 35, preferably 10 to 25. The lignin-derived material typically exhibits a polydispersity of between 2 and 4, although it can be as high as 8 or 9. Material of such higher values of polydispersity may be typically employed for industrial grade applications, but does usually not allow its subsequent exploitation as basic material for the provision of a larger variety of organic target compounds as envisaged by the invention. Accordingly, polydispersity of the material obtained by sub-step (iii) of the Kraft process should not go beyond 6, preferably should be less than 5 or from 2 to 5. A “molecular formula” of C9H8.5O2.1S0.1(OCH3)0.8(CO2H)0.2 was previously reported for softwood Kraft lignin. About 4% by weight is typically free phenolic hydroxyl. (Lebo, S. E. et al, Lignin, Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, p. 18 of on-line version, (2001), John Wiley & Sons, Inc.). Kraft process-derived modified lignin-derived components typically also comprise biphenylic moieties, in particular when using lignocellulosic starting material being of spruce origin. Hence, spruce may be the preferred starting material for the inventive method, if dimeric biphenylic target products are desired.

Step (iv): Sulfonation

In order to obtain material from the Kraft process exhibiting an increased water-solubility over a wider pH range, i.e. for acidic and neutral pH milieu, sub-step (iv) may optionally be included into the Kraft process. That sub-step is preferably a sulfonation step. Therein, sulfonating agents known in the art, such as a solution of preferably concentrated sulfuric acid, may be added. Aliphatic side chains are typically sulfonated, e.g. by the introduction of sulfonyl moieties as substituents of side chains of Kraft lignin. Sulfonation may occasionally also affect the aromatic rings of the Kraft lignin components.

By sulfonation of Kraft lignin, sulfonated modified lignin is obtained, which is herein understood as “sulfonated Kraft lignin”.

Generally, sulfonation of sub-step (iv) of the Kraft process confers increased solubility and surfactant properties to Kraft lignin. “Sulfonated Kraft lignin” shares characteristic structural or functional properties with “lignosulfonate” of the sulfite process, such as water solubility over a broader pH range. Both, Kraft process-derived “sulfonated Kraft lignin” and sulfite process-derived “lignosulfonate” are referred to as “sulfonated lignin”. Kraft process-derived “sulfonated Kraft lignin” and sulfite process-derived “lignosulfonate” are generated under distinct chemical conditions resulting in structural distinct lignin-derived compositions. The average molecular weight of components of “sulfonated Kraft lignin” is typically lower than the average molecular weight of components of “lignosulfonate” resulting from the sulfite process. Accordingly, the molecular weight of the components of sulfonated Kraft lignin may typically be about 1.000 to 4.500 Da, preferably 2.500 to 3.500 Da.

For sulfonation according to sub-step (iv) of the Kraft process, overpressure and/or increased temperature may be applied. After a reaction period of preferably at least two hours, sulfonated Kraft lignin may be recovered, e.g., by water removal or by precipitation, e.g. with excess lime, as calcium lignosulfonates. As sulfonation confers improved water solubility properties to Kraft lignin, it makes such sulfonated lignin-derived material easier to separate in an aqueous environment from insoluble cellulosic material. In standard pulp and/or paper manufacturing plants operating under the Kraft process, additional sulfonation step (iv) (which may also be designated as “postsulfonation” for Kraft lignin) is therefore typically beneficially applied.

Sulfonation sub-step (iv) of the Kraft process is preferably carried out at a temperature below 300° C., more preferably below 200° C. Such elevated temperatures preferably ensure both sufficiently high yields of sulfonated reaction products, while it avoids premature, i.e. uncontrolled thermal degradation of the lignin-derived Kraft lignin material. Thereby, it is ensured that the lower molecular weight (as compared to the natural lignin polymers) aromatic lignin-derived components remain intact (without uncontrolled degradation) for their further processing towards the inventive method's target compounds. Low molecular weight monomeric or dimeric target compounds are obtained by well-controlled decomposition of the modified lignin-derived components in downstream method step (3), followed by subsequent isolation (purification) in step (4). Accordingly, the largest portion of modified lignin-derived components possible resulting from step (2) shall be made available for controlled decomposition in downstream step (3). Otherwise, the yield of the target compound would be unfavorably reduced.

(b) Sulfite Process

Alternatively, the “sulfite process” may be employed in sub-step (1.2), which is the second most prevalent pulping process worldwide. It is typically a low pH pulping process (although it may be conducted between pH 2 and 12) in aqueous solution containing one or more of salt or non-salt agents exhibiting one or more of sulfite or bisulfite groups or anions. For the sulfite process, the lignocellulosic starting material is treated in aqueous solution at elevated temperature and pressure. The process yields “lignosulfonate”, which is typically soluble in water and in some highly polar organics and amines. Lignosulfonate is generally more water-soluble than “Kraft lignin”. Sulfite pulping is generally less destructive than Kraft pulping, i.e. the natural lignin polymer is degraded to modified lignin-derived components being larger (and in particular exhibiting a higher average molecule weight and higher monomer molecular weights) than the corresponding components in Kraft pulping. Thus, “lignosulfonate” typically has a molecular weight of about 3.000 to 100.000 Da, preferably 5.000 to 20.000 Da.

In contrast to the Kraft process, the sulfite process is referred to as alternative method step (b). The sulfite process may preferably comprise the sub-steps of (i) optionally pre-steaming the (preferably chopped) lignocellulosic material, wherein the (preferably chopped) lignocellulosic material is advantageously wetted and preheated with steam, (ii) adding the (preferably chopped) lignocellulosic material to an aqueous, preferably acidic solution comprising a sulfite and/or bisulfite salt, and (iii) cooking the (preferably chopped) lignocellulosic material, which is provided (e.g. dispersed or and/or suspended) in said aqueous, preferably acidic, solution.

In the sulfite process, the resulting solid cellulose fibers are obtained by using salts of sulfurous acid to separate the lignin fraction from natural lignocellulosic starting material, such as wood chips, e.g. in digesters preferably operating at larger pressure. The salt anions used in the pulping process may either be sulfites (SO₃ ²⁻), and/or bisulfites (HSO₃ ⁻), depending on the pH. At lower pH, i.e. under stronger acidic conditions, such as less than pH 2.5, the sulfite is typically provided as HSO₃ ⁻. Counter cations may be sodium (Na+), calcium (Ca²⁺), potassium (K⁺), magnesium (Mg²⁺) or ammonium (NH₄ ⁺). Particularly divalent (e.g. earth alkali) cations, such as calcium and/or magnesium, may be used as the counter cation. Sulfite pulping is preferably carried out under acidic conditions, preferably at a pH below 5, preferably from pH 1.5 to 5 or 1.5 to 4. The (acidic) pH may be adapted depending on the nature of the counter cation for the sulfite (bisulfite) anion. The preferred salt is calcium bisulfite, which may advantageously be employed, if the selected pH value for the sulfite process is 2.5 or less. Higher pH sulfite pulping (at a pH above pH 2.5 or, more specifically, above pH 4) generally employs monovalent ions, such as sodium or ammonium, as counter cations. However, it is not excluded that sulfite pulping may be carried out over a wider pH range, including alkaline conditions of about pH 7 to12.

Step (i): Pre-Steaming

Optional sub-step (i) of the sulfite process is conducted as is sub-step (i) in the Kraft process (see above). Therefore, preferably chopped lignocellulosic material (such as woodchips) may be pre-treated with hot steam. Thereby, the preferably chopped lignocellulosic material is wetted and heated, which typically renders it more susceptible to adsorb treatment solutions as applied by subsequent sub-step (ii). Cavities of fresh wood are filled with fluids and/or air. Steam pre-treatment causes the air to expand. About 25% of the air and/or other fluids naturally occupying the cavities is thereby expelled from these cavities.

Step (ii): Addition of Sulfite or Bisulfite Salt

In sub-step (ii) of the sulfite process, the lignocellulosic material may be brought into contact with an aqueous, preferably acidic sulfite and/or bisulfite containing solution used as a pulping reactive agent (or “pulping liquor”).

The “pulping liquor” used in sub-step (ii) of the sulfite process may be provided as follows: Sulfur may be oxidized (burnt) with the stochiometrically adequate amount of oxygen to yield sulfur dioxide. Sulfur dioxide is preferably added, e.g. as a gas, to water to give sulfurous acid, which may be further diluted for its use as “pulping liquor”.

Preferably, the sulfite or bisulfite salt comprised in the aqueous (preferably acidic) solution in step (ii) of the sulphite process is a salt with a cationic counter ion preferably selected from the group consisting of sodium, calcium, magnesium and ammonium. The preferred salt is calcium bisulfite.

For sub-step (ii) of the sulfite, the pH of the aqueous preferably acidic solution is preferably 1 to 5 and more preferably 1.5 to 4. The temperature of the aqueous (preferably acidic) solution in sub-step (ii) of the sulfite process is also typically less than 100° C., e.g. from 70° C. to 90° C.

Step (iii): Cooking

The lignocellulosic material may be brought into contact with the pulping reactive agents for more than three hours, preferably 4 to 14 hours.

Sub-step (iii) of the sulfite process according to (b) is preferably carried out at a temperature of 120 to 170° C., more preferably at a temperature of 130 to 160° C. The temperature is thus typically above 120° C., preferably ranging from 130 to 160° C., depending on the reactive agents and their concentrations used.

Preferably, cooking in sub-step (iii) of the sulfite process is carried out in a pressurized vessel for at least 3 hours at a temperature of at least 120° C. Under such conditions, pulp and modified lignin-derived components may be separated from each other. Sub-step (iii) of the sulfite process according to (b) is preferably be carried out at a pressure of at least 4 bar in the pressurized vessel, preferably at 5 to 10 bar. A pressurized vessel is typically a digester as it is commonly used in the art of chemical pulping.

Preferably, sub-step (iii) of the sulfite process is carried out for 2 to 24 hours, preferably 4 to 6 hours.

Preferably, sub-step (iii) of the sulfite process is carried out either in a batch mode or in a continuous mode. For the continuous mode, the lignocellulosic starting material is fed into a digester at a rate, which allows the pulping reaction to be complete by the time the materials exit the reactor. The continuous mode is preferred to ensure higher throughput and improved efficiency. Digesters producing 1.000 tons or more of pulp per day are common and may be used according to the inventive method.

The modified lignin-derived components resulting from the sulfite process are generally designated as “lignosulfonate”. Due to the nature of the sulfite process, “lignosulfonate” typically contains significant amounts of sulfur-based moieties (typically in the form of sulfonate groups), for example, in the aliphatic side chains of the modified lignin-derived components.

“Lignosulfonate” is thus a complex (heterogeneous) mixture of modified lignin-derived components, i.e. water-soluble anionic lignin-derived polyelectrolytes, which carry —SO₃H functional groups. Lignosulfonate typically exhibits by its heterogeneous components a broad molecular weight range (broader than observed for Kraft lignin). Lignosulfonate is polydisperse with a polydispersity being typically higher than that of the Kraft process (about 4 to 9). As the sulfite process is less destructive than Kraft pulping, it does not degrade lignin to the same extent as the Kraft process. Thus, sulfite process-derived lignosulfonate typically has a higher average molecular weight than Kraft lignin as described herein. A maximum molecular weight of 140.000 Da is reported for softwood lignosulfonates, while maximum values for hardwoods are usually lower, e.g. lower than 50.000 Da. The typical range of the molecular weight for lignosulfonate polymers is about 5.000 to 50.000 Da, preferably about 5.000 to 20.000 Da (Brogdon, B. N., Dimmel, D. R. J. Wood Chem. Technol. 1996, 16, 297). Usually, it comprises about 10 to 300 building blocks, preferably 20 to 200, most preferably 25 to 150 building blocks, and thus, may have a “polymerization degree” of 10 to 300, preferably 20 to 200, most preferably of 25 to 150. It typically exhibits a higher sulfur content (about 3% to 8% w/w) than (unsulfonated) Kraft lignin (having a sulfur content of typically less than 1% w/w).

Lignosulfonates are used in the art as low-value chemicals in tanning leather, making concrete, drilling mud and drywall, such as binders or additives for building material.

Sulfite process-derived lignosulfonates are typically soluble in water over essentially the entire pH range. Sulfite process-derived lignosulfonate may also be soluble in highly polar organic and amine solvents. Its approximate “molecular formulas” are described as C9H8.5O2.5(OCH3)0.85(SO₃H)0.4 for softwood or as C9H7.5O2.5 (OCH3)1.39(SO₃H)0.6 for hardwood, respectively, as starting material for sulfite process-derived lignosulfonate. Sulfite process-derived lignosulfonate may comprise biphenylic moieties for some of the components of the larger number of components representing the “lignosulfonate” fraction. That holds specifically for lignocellulosic material of spruce origin. Hence, spruce may be the preferred starting material for the inventive method, if biphenylic precursor or target compounds are desired.

(c) Alternative Methods

Organosolv Process

As a further alternative, the “organosolv process” is typically carried out by treatment of wood or bagasse with various organic solvents. “Bagasse” is the fibrous residue that remains once plant material (such as sugar cane) has been crushed and juice or sap have been extracted. The “Alcell process” is one of the most well-known organosolv processes. It finally involves dissolution of lignin in either ethanol or ethanol/water mixtures. The advantage of the organosolv process is that it allows to automatically generate separate process streams of cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin. Thereby, all components of the lignocellulosic biomass starting material may be individually processed. That process is generally considered as environmentally attractive, as it does not employ aggressive reactive agents (e.g. sulfides) and harsh conditions used in the more common Kraft or sulfite processes. The organosolv process typically yields organosolv lignin as the modified lignin-derived components, which may be employed in further downstream reaction steps of the present invention. Organosolv lignin is therefore typically low in sulfur content. It has a low molecular weight of about 1.000 to 2.000 Da. It is typically also of higher purity than the lignin-derived components obtained from other pulping processes. A disadvantage of the organosolv process are the costs of solvent recovery.

Steam Explosion Process

Another pulping process, which may be employed by the present invention, is the “steam explosion process” involving steam impregnation under pressure followed by rapid pressure release, which separates the lignocellulosic constituents. Covalent linkages of 3D lignin are ruptured as well, such that a complex mixture of lignin derived fragments is obtained. Typically, wood or bagasse is exposed to steam at overpressure and elevated temperature, such as a total pressure of 1.38 to 3.45 MPa and a temperature from about 180° C. to about 230° C. for about 1-20 min before rapid pressure release. The molecular weight distribution of the lignin fragments obtained by the steam explosion process is typically similar to the organosolv process. In addition, the process uses no sulfur, and separating the process streams is also possible.

Pyrolysis

Pyrolysis of lignocellulosic material (as a further alternative of sub-step (1.2)) generally leads to pyrolyzed lignin-derived fragments, which may also be considered as modified lignin-derived components to be employed by the present invention. The pyrolysis process typically involves relatively high temperatures, typically at least 600 K, such as between 720 and 750 K. No waste other than flue gas and ash is produced by that process, whereas increased energy consumption is required to fuel the process. Pyrolysis lignin exhibits structural characteristics significantly different from lignin components obtained from other “pulping processes”. It involves C₈— rather than C₉ building blocks, potentially allowing for unique downstream reactions according to the present invention. Thereby, specific aromatic hydrocarbons are made available as target compounds, which are not available via other processes.

Other Methods

Several other methods for isolating (modified) lignin from wood or plant biomass or starting material are described in the art as well, including the “ammonia fiber explosion” (AFEX) process and the “hot water process”, which may also be employed as sub-step (1.2), which are described in further detail by Bozell et al. (Top Value Added Candidates from Biomass. Volume II: Results of Screening for Potential Candidates from Biorefinery: Lignin; Pacific Northwest National Laboratory: Richland, Wash., 2007) and Kamm et al. (Biorefineries-Industrial Processes and Products; VCH: Wcinheim, Germany, 2006; Vol. 2). Finally, the “dilute acid process” as a further option for sub-step (1.2) of the inventive method may ensure effective separation of lignin from other biomass components. It may, however, provide lower yields. Corrosion of equipment (due to the acidic environment) may also be an issue. The “alkaline oxidation process” may use O₂ or H₂O₂ to degrade lignin. However, the process may suffer from slower delignification rates. The dilute acid process and alkaline oxidation process may both provide modified lignin-derived components with similar molecular weight (distributions) as organosolv lignin.

Lignin-Derived Components

Generally, modified lignin-derived components, such as (sulfonated) “Kraft lignin” and/or “lignosulfonate”, are typically dissolved or dispersed in the consumed pulping liquor, once processed according to sub-step (1.2). Said liquor (process stream leaving step (1.2)) usually also comprises most of the hemicellulose and/or its hydrolysis products (poly-, oligo and/or monosaccharides) in dissolved form.

The lignin-derived fraction of any pulping process is preferably forwarded to separation sub-step (1.3) for its further processing towards the low molecular weight target compound. In particular, “Kraft lignin” upon application of sub-steps (i) to (iii) of the Kraft process according to (a), or “lignosulfonate” upon application of the sulfite process according to (b) or “sulfonated Kraft lignin” upon application of sub-steps (i) to (iv) of the Kraft process according to (a) may be employed for further processing by sub-step (1.3).

Further downstream, the method of the present invention thus typically employs the steps of separating pulp in sub-step (1.3) from the process stream and, subsequently, isolating the fraction of modified lignin-derived components in step (2) from other components being present in the process stream.

Sub-Step (1.3): Pulp Separating Step

In step (1.3), the pulp obtained in sub-step (1.2) is separated in a pulp separating step from the process stream obtainable from the pulping process in sub-step (1.2), to provide a substantially pulp-free process stream.

Hereby, the process stream of sub-step (1.2) is converted to (i) an essentially pulp-free stream with enriched fractions of modified lignin-derived components, hemicellulose and/or fragments of any thereof and/or inorganic material, and (ii) pulp, which is understood herein to essentially comprise a mixture of (enriched) cellulose fibrous material.

The pulp fraction may be separated by sub-step (1.3) as dry matter or as a pulp containing stream. Sub-step (1.3) may be carried out by any suitable separation method preferably selected from the group consisting of blowing, sieving, countercurrent flow, centrifugation, filtration, washing, stripping, ion-exchange, or any combination thereof. Separation of the pulp from the process stream is more preferably carried out by blowing, sieving and/or washing. The pulp or pulp containing stream is further processed according to state-of-the-art technologies for, e.g., manufacturing paper. The stream(s) containing the fraction of modified lignin-derived components is subjected to step (2) of the inventive method for isolation of said modified lignin-derived components.

As used herein, a “stream” or “process stream” is generally understood as a liquid medium comprising intermediates of the inventive method resulting from the preceding method step, which serve as starting (process) material for the subsequent method step. Generally, the stream includes its components dissolved, suspended or dispersed in said liquid medium. Distinct fractions of the (process) stream may be obtained reflecting components of homogenous nature, which may be isolated by fractionation from the process stream.

A “fraction” may represent a part of a whole or, more generally, any number of (equal) parts. In particular, a fraction is understood herein to be a part of a (process) stream according to the present invention, which typically comprises at least two different fractions.

Accordingly, different fractions may be organic matter comprising (residual) cellulosic material and non-cellulosic material such as modified lignin-derived components (e.g. Kraft lignin or lignosulfonate) and hemicelluloses. Further, fractions of a stream according to the present invention may be inorganic reactive agents, which are required to run the process, e.g. inorganic buffer salts. Another fraction, typically the largest both in terms of volume and mass, is the solvent/dispersant. The solvent usually is an aqueous solvent/dispersant from the pulping process, which may be diluted or concentrated in the steps following sub-step (1.2), which is herein understood to form a part of the total dry mass carried in the stream according to the present invention. A particularly important fraction of the stream in the context of the present invention is the fraction of modified lignin-derived components.

As a derivative of natural lignin, the “modified lignin-derived component” is a lignin molecule, which underwent a pulping process, such as “Kraft lignin” or “lignosulfonate”. A “modified lignin-derived component” typically has a lower molecular weight than natural lignin, from which it is derived. However, the “modified lignin-derived component” is larger than the low molecular weight lignin-derived compound, preferably having a molecular weight of at least 1.000 Da. The nature (and the actual molecular weight) of the “modified lignin-derived component” may vary largely depending, e.g., on the starting material, on the (pulping) method, by which the modified lignin-derived component is obtained, and on the reaction conditions applied by the inventive method. However, it is common to the modified lignin-derived components that they are composed of C8 or C9 building blocks after, e.g., a pulping process, as they occur in natural lignin.

It follows from natural lignin's complex and somewhat random chemical structure that lignin-derived components, such as products of the pulping process, are typically heterogeneous. The pulping process provides a larger variety of lignin-derived components, which may typically contain from 8 to 150 building blocks. Moreover, lignin-derived components of the same number of building blocks are also diverse in terms of their chemical nature, as they reflect individual portions of the heterogeneous natural lignin polymer. That chemical and structural heterogeneity of lignin-derived material obtained from e.g. the pulping process traditionally impeded the preparation of homogeneous and/or high quality products by prior art methods, such that adequate economic exploitation of lignin-derived material was difficult to achieve in the art. That prior art issue is overcome by the inventive method.

Pulping processes, nevertheless, typically yield “modified” lignin-derived components based on C₈ or C₉ building blocks, wherein some or all of the building blocks may be modified. Modifications preferably occur at the linking groups of those building blocks of natural lignin, which are dissociated by the pulping process, and/or at substitution sites of the building blocks, in particular at the aromatic ring system of a building block, e.g. by side chain modification or e.g. by sulfonation. Accordingly, the molecular weight of the modified building blocks of lignin-derived components may typically be slightly higher than the molecular weight of the building blocks of the natural lignin polymer.

Typically, “modified lignin-derived components” as used herein are present as a fraction of a (process) “stream”. Such a stream may comprise residual or waste material and the solvent and/or dispersant from which the intermediate of interest is preferably isolated. Typically, the solvent and/or dispersant accounts for at least 50% (w/w) of the total weight of material forwarded as a “stream” to the next method step, or at least 60% (w/w), preferably for at least 70% (w/w), or at least 80% (w/w). The solvent and/or dispersant is typically an aqueous medium, but may alternatively be an organic solvent, depending on the pulping process. Generally, the stream flows unidirectionally, from the preceding method step to the more downstream method steps. Valves, pumps and/or gravity-assisted means may typically be employed to facilitate the required flow of the stream downwards to the final step of the method of the present invention.

Typically, upon pulping, the lignin in the lignocellulosic material is broken into smaller molecules, which are more soluble in the pulping liquid. Cellulose is degraded to a minor degree, although individual cellulose fibers may detach from the chopped lignocellulosic material during the pulping process and dissolve rather in the pulping liquid than natural lignin. As a consequence, a residual cellulosic scaffold remains. However, to a varying degree, cellulose fibers are also present in the liquid in dispersed form, i.e. not in the larger scaffold structure of fibers.

In sub-step (1.3) of the inventive method, preferably both the scaffold and the dispersed cellulose fibers are separated from the process stream. A preferred way of separating the cellulose which is present in the scaffolds, is “blowing” the cellulose scaffold of the chopped lignocellulosic material, which underwent the pulping of sub-step (1.2), into a collection tank (“blow tank”). The residual cellulosic scaffolds may be blown into a blow tank that usually operates at atmospheric pressure. This blowing typically releases steam and volatiles. Volatiles are understood herein as organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at ordinary room temperature. Typically, they are characterized by an individual odor. The volatile fraction may be condensed and collected. When employing “northern softwoods” as the starting material for the present invention, the volatile fraction typically encompasses raw turpentine.

The pulp separation in sub-step (1.3) may preferably further comprise to separating cellulose from the liquid, which was not blown out as part of the blown out residual cellulosic scaffold, e.g. the dispersed cellulose fibers. The pulp separation according to sub-step (1.3) may encompass distinct sieves or screens and/or centrifugal separation. The sieves are typically arranged in a multistage cascade-like assembly. By such an arrangement, considerable amounts of pulp is preferably captured, and thus, separated from the process stream containing the fraction of interest according to the inventive method, i.e. the fraction of modified lignin-derived components.

The process stream (optionally subject to blowing, sieving and/or filtration) may also undergo one or more washing steps to separate pulp. Thereby, (residual) dispersed cellulose fibers are separated from the process stream. Usually, a pulp mill encompasses 3-5 washing stages in series. Pulp washing as used herein is typically carried out by pulp washers using counter-current flow in between two subsequent stages such that the pulp moves in the opposite direction to the flow of washing water. While the washing water becomes a part of the process stream comprising the target modified lignin according to the present invention, cellulose is effectively separated and ready for conventional use such as paper production. Various techniques may be involved in pulp washing, such as thickening/dilution, displacement and diffusion. The washing equipment may comprise, for example, pressure diffusers, atmospheric diffusers, vacuum drum washers, drum displacers and wash presses.

Said pulp separation step or steps may provide an essentially pulp-free process stream as a result of sub-step (1.3). Therein, the essentially pulp-free process stream, which contains the modified lignin-derived components, may be provided as one single process stream (a) or may be partitioned in at least two (partial) process streams (b) in a further stream separation step.

By said stream separation step, the sum of the flow rates of the partial streams is typically equal to the flow rate prior to the stream separation step. The flow rate of each of the two or more partial streams may correspond to e.g. up to 50%, 33%, and 25% etc. of the flow rate of the initial pulp-free process stream prior to the division. Alternatively, one of the partial streams may exhibit a higher flow rate than the other partial stream(s). Typical percentile ratios of flow rates may be 5:95, 10:90, 15:85, 20:80, 25:75, 30:70, 35:65, 40:60 and 55:45. When dividing e.g. into three partial streams, each process stream may have a flow rate corresponding to one third of the flow rate of the stream. Alternatively, one or two partial streams may have a flow rate higher or lower than the third stream, provided that the sum of the flow rates of the partial streams preferably equals the flow rate of the initial stream. Thereby, e.g. modified lignin-derived components comprised in all partial streams may be simultaneously supplied to (conventional) combustion as an energy source, to further processing according to the inventive method and, e.g., to storage facilities, e.g. a container. Hence, said stream division may provide a “buffer capacity” depending on the status of the plant and the turnover of the method as a whole, which adds versatility and efficiency to the method, preferably without generating extra waste.

Separating the stream for further processing in downstream steps may be carried out by technical means known in the field of fluid process technology. Preferably, the separation means are adjustable in such a way, that defined portions of the single process stream according to (a) may be mechanically divided into two or more, three or more or four or more partial streams. The means for dividing may be selected from a flap, hatch, clack, lid, valve, damper or shutter or a combination thereof. Said means may operate electrically and/or hydraulically. Alternatively, the stream may be divided into partial streams by vacuum and/or pressurized gas, i.e. portions of the stream may be sucked or blown into two or more passages. Therein, a passage is understood as any form of duct, which passes the respective stream to its next stage. The dividing means and/or of the passages conducting the partial process streams are typically made of non-corroding metal, preferably coated or non-coated stainless steel.

The essentially pulp-free stream, which is herein forwarded for its further processing in step (2), is commonly designated as “black liquor” (due to its color), when applying the Kraft process or “brown liquor”, when applying the sulfite process in step (1.2). It typically comprises modified lignin-derived components and random fragments thereof (i.e. lignin-derived molecules formed during the pulping process, but having a lower molecular weight than the typical modified lignin-derived components) and hydrolysis products of hemicellulose. Hemicellulose is typically hydrolyzed in any pulping process, e.g. in acidic or alkaline medium, yielding smaller pieces of hemicellulose such as poly- or oligosaccharide fragments or even mono- or disaccharides thereof, which are all usually dissolved in the pulping liquid and/or the process stream. Further, (in)organic salts as residual components of the reactive agents used for the pulping process may be comprised in the essentially pulp-free process stream, such as sodium carbonate and/or sodium sulfate.

Step (2): Isolation of Modified Lignin-Derived Components

After the pulping process according to sub-step (1.2), the fraction of modified lignin-derived components comprised either in the single process stream provided by sub-step (1.3(a)) or in at least one of the at least two (partial) process streams provided by sub-step (1.3(b)) is isolated from the process stream(s) and its/their other components (e.g. hemicellulose and/or hydrolysis products thereof). Dividing the product stream into partial product streams adds flexibility to the control of the yield envisaged for the fractions comprised in the essentially pulp-free process stream. Modified lignin-derived components are thus either isolated from the single process stream (obtained from 1.3(a)) or from at least one of the at least two partial process streams (obtained from 1.3(b)) Therefore, by alternative (b), isolation of the fraction of modified lignin-derived components is applied to one or more of the partial streams provided at the stage of sub-step 1.3(b).

In other words, isolation of modified lignin-derived components as described below may be accomplished from a single process stream obtained from sub-step (1.3 (a)) or from one of several (partial) process streams obtained from sub-step (1.3(b). Several process streams are provided from the single process stream of (1.3(a)) by separating (or dividing) said process stream into two or more (partial) streams. This allows to control the amount of the modified lignin-derived components further processed according to the inventive method. Hence, stream separation is a tool to fine tune the inventive method when determining its flow rate and turnover of the process. By dividing the stream into two or more partial streams, supply of modified lignin-derived components either to downstream process steps (3) and (4) may be controlled as well.

Modified lignin-derived components present in either a single process stream or in two or more (partial) process streams obtained from sub-step (1.3) are isolated from said process stream(s) as described below.

Isolation, i.e. controlled removal, of the fraction of modified lignin-derived components from the process stream(s) may be controlled by the isolation means applied, e.g. by the parameters applied (e.g. the amount of precipitation agent, pH, extraction or filtration characteristics. Isolation may be applied to all or part of the partial process streams (if present). Typically, the essentially pulp-free process stream provided by sub-step (1.3) is divided into two partial process streams (1.3(b)), with one of them subjected to isolation of the fraction of modified lignin-derived components from the process stream and the other partial process streams being used for combustion and/or other uses.

In particular, the fraction of modified lignin-derived components may be isolated from the solvent and/or dispersant of the process stream, such that the fraction of modified lignin-derived components may be obtained as dry matter. It may then be re-dissolved in a suitable solvent or dispersed in a suitable dispersant, e.g. an aqueous solvent or dispersant, to be further processed in the subsequent method step. Alternatively, the fraction of modified lignin-derived components may be enriched, e.g. by reducing the solvent and/or dispersant content of the fraction of modified lignin-derived components, such that a concentrated solution or dispersion is provided.

Isolation of step (2) may be carried out by any appropriate means employed in the field of solid-fluid or fluid-fluid separation. The isolation may, for example, involve filtration, extraction, counter current flow separation and precipitation. Any technology may be used according to step (2) of the invention to control the amount of isolated modified lignin-derived components, which may then be subjected to further processing.

Step (2), i.e. isolation of the fraction of modified lignin-derived components from other (e.g. hemicellulosic) components in the process stream, may preferably be carried out by filtration including ultra- and/or nanofiltration, extraction, countercurrent flow, stripping, ion-exchange, precipitation by di- or multivalent cations, such as calcium cations (which may e.g. be provided as calcium hydroxide), precipitation by CO₂ in acidic solution, or any combination of thereof.

(a) Filtration

Preferably, isolation is carried out by any type of extraction or filtration, preferably ultrafiltration and/or nanofiltration.

“Filtration” is hereby understood as a physical purification or enrichment method involving membrane technology by permeable membranes. Membranes are characterized by their nominal pore size. It typically describes the maximum pore size distribution. As that parameter provides only vague information about the retention capacity of the membrane, the “cut-off” is typically used as the parameter to characterize separation properties of membrane-associated filtration. The exclusion limit or “cut-off” of the membrane is usually specified in the form of NMWC (nominal molecular weight cut-off, or MWCO, molecular weight cut off, with units in Dalton). It is commonly defined as the minimum molecular weight of a globular molecule that is retained to 90% by the membrane. In practice, the MWCO of the membrane should be at least 20% lower than the molecular weight of the molecule that is to be separated. For example, a 1 kDa filter is suitable to let pass a small molecule with a molecular weight of, e.g., 500 Da, while the larger modified lignin-derived components of a molecular weight of, e.g., 2.000 Da are not able to pass.

Preferably, filtration is used herein to isolate, in step (2), the dispersed or suspended modified lignin-derived components obtained in step (1). The filter cut-off is set in such a way, that it is suitable to discriminate the molecular weight of the target modified lignin-derived components and of other components in the process stream. The other components may be larger (e.g. residual natural lignin and/or fragments thereof having a higher molecular weight than the modified lignin-derived components) or smaller (e.g. reactive agents of the pulping process, hydrolyzed hemicellulose) than the target components. If the target modified lignin-derived components are of a larger molecular weight than all other components in the process stream, the filter is selected to have a cut off such that the target components are typically retained in the filter. Otherwise, if other components are larger -in terms of molecular weight- than the modified lignin-derived components, the cut-off may typically be selected such that the target components may typically be found in the filtrate.

Typically, the filtration in isolation step (2) may be a combination of (different) filtration steps. Therein, for example, in one step the cut off of the filter is selected to be higher than the molecular weight of the modified lignin-derived components. Accordingly, other components with a higher molecular weight are kept in the filter and the modified-lignin-derived components remain in the filtrate, i.e. in the residual process stream. In another step, the residual process stream may be subjected to a second filtration, wherein the cut-off is selected to be lower than the molecular weight of the modified lignin-derived components. Accordingly, the target modified lignin-derived components are retained in the filter and, thereby, isolated from the residual process stream. Thereby, the target components may be obtained as dry matter and may subsequently be dissolved for further processing.

The more the different fractions within the process stream differ in terms of their molecular weight, the more effective may the isolation by filtration be carried out. For example, as the Kraft process typically yields modified lignin-derived components (Kraft lignin) of lower molecular weight than the sulfite process, filtration may be very preferred to separate Kraft lignin from lignin-derived material of higher molecular weight, such as non-modified or re-polymerized lignin-derived material or other debris in step (2).

Ultrafiltration and/or (depending on the size of the lignin-derived components to be isolated) nanofiltration may be preferably employed in step (2). Ultrafiltration typically employs a pore size of 2-100 nm and a molecular weight cut-off value of about 5 kDa. Nanofiltration typically refers to a filtration mode based on a pore size of 1-2 nm and a molecular weight cut-off value of 0.1-5 kDa. Accordingly, ultrafiltration is typically employed to separate or isolate larger lignin-derived components (e.g. larger than 5.000 Da, larger than 8.000 Da or larger than 10.000 Da) from the process stream (containing components of whatever e.g. the lignin-derived fraction or residual cellulosic fraction or the hemicellulosic fraction of a molecular weight of less than 5.000 Da). That isolated larger molecular weight fraction may be subject to further separation in order to separate larger isolated components of distinct fractions, e.g. to isolate the lignin-derived components from residual cellulosic degradation products or hemicellulosic components. The isolated lignin-derived fraction of the molecular weight retained by the chosen cut-off value of the ultrafiltration device may then be further processed in step (3).

Also, the remaining components of the lignin-derived fraction in the process stream having a molecular weight lower than the cut-off level chosen for initial ultrafiltration may be isolated from other components in the process stream. E.g. the (partial) process stream may be subjected to another filtration step with a lower cut-off level than chosen for the initial ultrafiltration step, e.g. by additional lower cut-off level ultrafiltration and/or nanofiltration. Thereby, the lignin-derived components of a molecular weight lower than the cut-off- level of the first filtration step and larger than the cut-off level of the second filtration step may be isolated. That retained lignin-derived fraction may be subject to further isolation to separate the lignin-derived component fraction from components of similar size of other fractions (e.g. from hemicellulosic degradation products of similar size). Accordingly, the inventive method may be set up such that components of the lignin-derived fraction are isolated, which fall within the individually desired smaller molecular weight range of e.g. between 1.000, 2.000, 3.000, 4.000, 5.000 or 6.000 Da (cut-off level of the second filtration step) and 5.000, 6.000, 8.000 or 10.000 Da (cut-off level of the first filtration step). Thereby or by any other method known in the art to separate by molecular weight or by other physico-chemical parameters, a more homogeneous lignin-derived fraction may be forwarded to decomposition step (3).

Accordingly, two ultrafiltration steps or ultrafiltration and nanofiltration, respectively, may e.g. be combined to arrive at a modified lignin-derived fraction of a defined molecular weight range (e.g. 5.000 to 10.000 or 1.000 to 5.000 Da, respectively for Kraft lignin). Whenever isolation from the process stream of the sulfite process-derived lignosulfonate is concerned, such isolation may preferably be performed by employing suitable isolation methods, e.g. as described by Lebo et al. (Lebo, Stuart E. Jr.; Gargulak, Jerry D.; McNally, Timothy J. (2001). “Lignin”. Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. Kirk Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.), which is incorporated herein by reference. “Lignosulfonate” (due to the larger molecular weight of its components) will preferably be based on two ultrafiltration steps resulting e.g. in a molecular weight range of the isolated lignin-derived components of between 6.000 Da and 15.000 Da or 8.000 Da and 12.000 Da.

Ultra- and/or nanofiltration typically employ membranes, which are preferably tubular membranes exposing solvent resistance, i.e. which are preferably resistant at high and low pH values. Ultra- and/or nanofiltration is typically performed at elevated pressure, preferably above about 2 bar, more preferably at about 3 bar or above, even more preferably at about 4 bar or above, most preferably at about 5 bar. Higher pressures may also be applied, e.g. above 10 bar, such as 10-15 bar. Further, the applied temperature for the filtration step is typically higher than room temperature (25° C.) to facilitate isolation of the fraction of modified lignin-derived components. Usually, the temperature is chosen such that degradation of the components to be isolated is essentially avoided. The temperature may be at least 40° C., preferably at least 50° C., most preferably about 60-65° C.

Hence, the preferred membrane's cut-off size of the employed ultra- or nanofiltration in step (2) may depend on the expected molecular weight of the target modified lignin-derived components. For example, Kraft lignin being of a relatively small molecular weight may require a membrane cut-off of about 2 to kDa or from 2 to 8 kDa, while larger lignosulfonate may require a membrane cut-off of about 5 to 50 kDa or even up to 100 kDa. Typically, the cut-off size for membranes to isolate lignosulfonate may be about 1 to 20 kDa.

If ultra- and/or nanofiltration is applied, it is preferably preceded by a pre-filtration step to separate larger debris, e.g. insoluble or poorly soluble polymers and/or fragments thereof. Thereby, efficiency may be increased as excessive blockade of the ultra- and/or nanofiltration membrane may be avoided, when isolating the fraction of modified lignin-derived components. Accordingly, the pre-filter typically has a larger pore size and/or molecular weight cut-off than the ultra- and/or nanofiltration membrane.

Whether filtration is applied by step (2) or not may depend on whether the modified lignin-derived components are dissolved in the fluid phase or suspended as solid components. Filtration is preferably used for separation of suspended or dispersed solid, i.e. preferably dispersed particles of a size of about >1 μm. By filtration, oversize solid particles are typically retained by the membrane with the yield depending on the character of the modified lignin components, their particle size and the filter's cut off.

Preferably, isolation step (2) thus comprises filtration and/or extraction, preferably ultrafiltration and/or nanofiltration by an ultrafiltration and/or nanofiltration cell, preferably having a pre-filtration section. Filtration in step (2) is preferably carried out in a ultrafiltration and/or nanofiltration cell comprising at least one molecular weight cut-off unit, preferably at least two molecular weight cut-off units, wherein the at least one molecular weight cut-off unit has a cut-off level preferably of 0.5 kDa to 2 kDa.

(b) Extraction

Alternatively, extraction e.g. by means of an organic solvent, may be performed. As used herein, “extraction” is typically a separation process comprising the separation of a desired substance from its environment. It may include liquid-liquid extraction and/or solid phase extraction. Extraction may use two immiscible phases to separate dissolved modified lignin-derived components from the original phase into another. By extraction, organic compounds are extracted by an organic solvent from the aqueous phase. Common solvents for extraction are classified by their polarity from ethyl acetate (lowest polarity) to water (highest polarity): ethyl acetate<acetone<ethanol<methanol<acetone:water (7:3)<ethanol:water (8:2)<methanol:water (8:2)<water, in the order of the Hildebrand solubility parameter. The solution containing the extracted fraction (i.e. the components) may be dried, e.g. by using a centrifugal evaporator or a freeze-drier.

For example, Kraft lignin may be extracted by step (2) from the process stream, if less soluble in an aqueous medium than in appropriate organic solvents (such as methanol, ethanol, acetone and aqueous mixtures thereof known in the art).

Alternative extraction techniques may include supercritical carbon dioxide extraction, ultrasonic extraction, heat reflux extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, instant controlled pressure drop extraction (DIC), and perstraction. Amongst them, perstraction may be preferred. Typically, “perstraction” includes two liquid phases, with only one phase including a solvent for extraction. Perstraction may advantageously be more gentle, faster and cheaper than traditional biphasic extraction techniques. “Stripping” may be employed as another gentle extraction alternative, which allows the fraction of modified lignin-derived components may be isolated from the process stream. “Stripping” is generally a physical separation process, wherein one or more components are removed from a liquid stream by a vapor stream. In industrial applications, the liquid and vapor streams may be employed co-currently or flow countercurrent. Stripping is usually carried out in either a packed or trayed column.

(c) Countercurrent Exchange

Isolation of the fraction of modified lignin-derived components in step (2) may generally be achieved by countercurrent flow, with the flow forwarded in opposite directions. For the inventive method the concentration of dissolved modified lignin-derived components along the concentration gradient may be envisaged. The counter-current exchange method may maintain the gradient of the two flows essentially stable for the entire contact zone. Hence, countercurrent flow is particularly suitable to isolate dissolved modified lignin-derived components and may be less preferred for dispersed modified lignin-derived components.

(d) Precipitation

Further, precipitation may be employed as an isolation method to allow a solid fraction to be isolated from solution. Precipitation may also be employed to control the amount of precipitated modified lignin (within a given time window) by the choice of the added amount of precipitation agent and/or the pH. Preferably, precipitation according to step (2) (d) may be conducted by means of the addition of a cation, preferably a di- or multivalent cation, most preferably of calcium.

Precipitation according to step (2)(d) may be in particular preferred for lignosulfonate or, equivalently, for sulfonated Kraft lignin. Precipitation by pH is less preferred, e.g. for lignosulfonate, as it is generally soluble in water over the entire pH range and may not be readily isolated by pH modification. However, precipitation by calcium salt addition may be preferred. E.g., excess lime (i.e. a calcium-containing inorganic material, in which carbonates, oxides and hydroxides typically predominate) may be added to the process stream, such that calcium lignosulfonate may precipitate. This process is generally known as Howard process. It is the most straight-forward recovery method known. Typically, up to 95% of the stream's lignosulfonate may be isolated by precipitation. Modified lignin resulting from the Kraft process (“Kraft lignin”) may be sulfonated in step (1) and thereafter subjected to, e.g., lime precipitation.

The remainder of modified lignin-derived components, which are not further employed by the present invention, may be channeled to the paper manufacturing process or may serve for other applications such as energy provision, or may be stored for later use or may be discarded.

Step (3): Chemical Decomposition

The isolated fraction of modified lignin-derived components of step (2) is subjected to chemical decomposition by step (3), wherein chemical decomposition step (3) may be carried out by (a) oxidative cracking of the modified lignin-derived components in the presence of a suitable (e.g. homogenous) catalyst comprising a metal or a metalloid component. Alternatively, chemical decomposition step (3) may be enabled (b) by reductive cracking of the modified lignin-derived components in the presence of a suitable (e.g. heterogeneous) catalyst comprising a metal or a metalloid component. The terms “oxidative cracking” and “cracking and oxidizing” may be used interchangeably herein. The terms “reductive cracking” and “cracking and reducing” may be used interchangeably herein. Alternatively, the modified lignin-derived components may be subjected to (c) electro-oxidation, preferably in alkaline or acidic solution, or (d) to any other suitable decomposition method. The term “chemical decomposition” refers to the fact that the modified lignin-derived components are chemically decomposed, i.e. with regard to their chemical structure. “Chemical decomposition” thus preferably disrupts or alters chemical bonds, preferably covalent chemical bonds.

Any one of steps (3)(a)-(c) is envisaged to provide a lignin-derived composition comprising at least one low molecular weight lignin-derived compound.

In step (3) of the inventive method, the isolated fraction of modified lignin-derived components of step (2) are subjected to a chemical (and optionally physical) decomposition step. The reaction may allow to convert the fraction of modified lignin-derived components of higher molecular weight to lower molecular weight compounds characterized by structural elements or units of the initial lignin polymer. Step (3) corresponds to a decomposition reaction of the modified lignin-derived components resulting in a heterogeneous ensemble of preferably low molecular weight compounds of typically aromatic nature.

Disruption of the modified lignin-derived components into smaller subunits by chemical decomposition is an important step for lignin valorization. The smaller subunits may preferably resemble the desired target compounds, and may expose various functional groups on the aromatic rings to further catalytic transformation e.g. in step (6) of the inventive method.

“Chemical decomposition” is typically understood as the provision of a plurality of lower molecular weight compounds by chemical and/or physical degradation of higher molecular weight starting material. Typically, such a reaction yields compounds comprising fragments or moieties of the higher molecular weight starting material. Chemical decomposition may be studied by chemical analysis, e.g. by mass spectrometry, gravimetric analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis. Preferably, decomposition according to the inventive method is carried out by catalytic reaction, or alternatively, electrolytically. Thermal decomposition may be employed as well according to the invention, but is less preferred, as it usually yields an even broader spectrum of diverse low molecular weight lignin-derived compounds. A larger fraction of these compounds following decomposition is of aromatic nature reflecting aromatic ring systems of the building blocks of the natural lignin polymer provided in step (1).

Decomposition may result in a heterogeneous ensemble of lignin-derived products comprising (modified) lignin-derived building blocks, i.e. “monomers” or “dimers”, preferably biphenylic dimers. Preferably, the resulting modified lignin-derived products herein essentially consist of monomers and dimers, i.e. the resulting lignin-derived products of step (2) do preferably not comprise larger (oligomeric) modified lignin-derived fragments but only modified lignin-derived monomers and dimers. Higher molecular weight modified lignin-derived components converted by step (3), preferably chemically modified lignin polymers (such as lignosulfonate and Kraft lignin), decompose in a controllable manner at elevated temperatures, preferably below the pyrolytic temperature of, e.g. 1000° C., such as at least 300° C., preferably at least 400° C., more preferably 400 to 500° C. and in the presence of a suitable catalyst (e.g. in a oxidative cracking/reductive cracking reaction) and/or when subjected to electro-oxidation.

“Chemical decomposition” may comprise (alternative (a)) oxidative cracking of the modified lignin-derived components isolated in step (2). Typically, such decomposition is carried out in the presence of a homogeneous metal ion-based or a metalloid-based catalyst. By alternative (b), reductive cracking is applied to decompose the modified lignin-derived components in the presence of a heterogeneous metal ion-based or metalloid-based catalyst. By alternative (c), said step is characterized by electro-oxidation of the modified lignin-derived components in alkaline or acidic solution.

“Cracking” is preferably a catalytic reaction to break or dissociate larger molecules into their smaller fragments by dissociation of covalent bonds of the larger molecule. Generally, “cracking” describes any type of molecular dissociation under the influence of, e.g., heat, catalysts, electric currents and/or solvents.

Originally, the term “cracking” is typically used to refer to reactions developed for petrochemistry to disrupt larger e.g. gasoil molecules into smaller gasoline molecules and olefins. In that context, “cracking” makes use of a reactor and a regenerator for regenerating the catalytic material. Therein, starting material may be injected into preferably hot, fluidized catalysts. The resulting vapor-phase products may be separated from the catalytic materials and fractionated into various product or product fragment fractions by condensation. The catalyst is typically introduced into a regenerator, wherein air or oxygen is preferably used to separate any residual components by an oxidation reaction, such that the surface of the catalyst is freed from any by-products, which are formed as a result of the cracking process. The hot regenerated catalyst may then be recycled to the reactor to complete its cycle. Isolated modified lignin-derived components derived from step (2) may be subjected to “cracking” conditions according to this definition as well, although the term “cracking” is preferably and typically to be understood as “oxidative cracking” or “reductive cracking” as defined above. “Cracking” of the isolated fraction modified lignin-derived components, e.g. Kraft lignin or lignosulfonates, is therefore preferably understood as the reaction underlying the decomposition according to step (3) (a) or (b).

Cracking kinetics and the products of that reaction are typically dependent on the temperature and/or the catalysts applied. In addition, the ensemble of products resulting from cracking is dependent on the nature of the lignin-derived fraction used as starting material for the decomposition reaction. Accordingly, the fraction of modified lignin-derived components, e.g. Kraft lignin or lignosulfonate, may be subjected by step (3) to a catalytic reaction at a temperature significantly lower than pyrolytic temperature or to electric current, preferably by electro-oxidation.

“Oxidation” is involved in the decomposition reaction according to step (3(a)). As used herein, “oxidation” refers to any reaction, which includes loss of electrons. More specifically, the term refers to the introduction oxygen-containing functional groups, e.g. a hydroxyl group. For the method of the present invention, aromatic ring systems are typically functionalized by an oxygen-containing functional group and/or by the substitution of a hydroxyl group by an oxo group. Oxidation is typically achieved by an oxidizing agent. An oxidizing agent may—more generally—correspond to any chemical species that removes electron(s) from another species. More specifically, it transfers (electronegative) oxygen to a substrate.

“Catalysis” is involved in step (3(a)) and (3(b)). It typically allows to enhance the kinetics of a chemical reaction by the presence of a catalyst lowering the activation energy.

Preferred catalysts for oxidizing of the (modified) lignin-derived components in step (3(a)) are catalysts comprising metal ions, such as salts with catalytically active cations. Alternatively, (metal or metalloid) coordination complexes may be employed. In general, a “coordination complex” is typically known in chemistry to consist of a central atom, which may be a metallic or metalloid atom, e.g. a metal ion or a metalloid ion. It is called the coordination center. The surrounding sphere of bound molecules or ions is known as ligands or complexing agents. Alternatively, catalysts may be of metalloid character including coordination complexes, with a metalloid atom as the coordination center, such as boron. In particular, catalysts used according to step (3(a)) are homogeneous catalysts, but may also be heterogeneous catalysts. Generally, homogeneous catalysis is based on catalytic reactions with the catalyst being in the same phase as the reactant(s). More specifically, a homogeneous catalyst is dissolved for catalysis in the solution.

(a) Oxidative Cracking of Modified Lignin-Derived Components

Preferably, step (3) involves (a) oxidative cracking of the modified lignin-derived components.

Preferably, step (3(a)) may comprise oxidizing the modified lignin derived-components, preferably in the presence of a heterogeneous or homogeneous catalyst or a combination of catalysts. Step (3(a)) is typically carried out in the presence of an oxidizing agent such as air, O₂ or H₂O₂ and preferably a catalyst or a mixture of catalysts, which is/are preferably of heterogeneous nature, e.g. with regard to a cracking reaction, but may also be of homogeneous nature.

Heterogenous catalysts of interest for step (3) (a) of the inventive method include TiO₂, Pt/TiO₂, Fe(III)/TiO₂, Pd/Al₂O₃, Ni/MgO, CH₃ReO₃, Cu—Ni, Cu-Mnm, Cu—Co—Mn, Cu—Fe—Mn, Cu—Ni—Ce/Al₂O₃, Cu—Mn/Al₂O₃.

Homogenous catalysts of interest for step (3) (a) of the inventive method may be selected from the following, non-limiting examples of suitable catalysts.

Homogenous catalysts applicable in step (3) (a) of the inventive method may include metalloporphyrins, including catalysts formed from the metalation of the porphyrin with transition metal salts. Metalloporphyrins of interest as catalysts in step (3)(a) of the inventive method include Mn(TSPc)Cl, Fe(TSPc)C, Fe(TF₅PP)Cl, CoTSPc, FeTSPc, Rh(TSPP), Fe(TF₅PP)Cl and Mn(TSPP)Cl. Crestini and Tagliatesta provide an extensive review on the oxidation of lignin using metalloporphyrin complexes (cf. Crestini and Tagliatesta. The Porphyrin Handbook; Kadish, K. M., Smith, K. M., Guilard, R. Eds.; Academic Press: San Diego, Calif., 2003; Vol. 11, p 161).

Homogenous catalysts applicable in step (3)(a) of the inventive method include Schiff-base catalysts, especially metallosalen catalysts. These are emerging as promising oxidation catalysts of lignin and modified lignin-derived components. The term “salen” refers to [N,N′-bis(salicylidene)ethane-1,2-diaminato]. Metallosalen catalysts of interest as catalysts in step (3)(a) of the inventive method include Co(salen), [(pyr}Co(salen)], Cu-, Fe-, and Mn-triphenylphosphonium-decorated salen complexes, Co-sulphosalen, Co(salen)/SBA-15, and [Co(N-Me salpr)].

Homogenous catalysts applicable in step (3)(a) of the inventive method include nonporphyrinic or Schiff base catalysts, including metallo-TAML (tetraamido macrocyclic ligand), -DTNE (1,2-bis-(4,7-dimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclonon-1-yl)ethane) and -TACN (1,4,7,-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane) catalysts. The metal may for instance be selected from iron or manganese. Catalysts of use in step (3)(a) of the inventive method in this regard include Mn(IV)-Me₄DTNE and Mn(IV)-Me₄TACN.

Homogenous catalysts applicable in step (3)(a) of the inventive method include polyoxometalates (POMs), as reviewed in detail by Gaspar et al. Green Chem. 2007, 9, 717. Polyoxometalates consist of both primary and secondary heteroatoms, where the former typically determines the structure and the latter, typically transition metal ions, may be substituted without change of structure. Thereby, secondary heteroatoms can be replaced by ions conferring desirable redox characteristics. POMs of interest as catalysts in step (3)(a) of the inventive method include SiW₁₁Mn(III), BW₁₁Co(III), PW₁₁Ru(IV), heteropolyanion-5-Mn(II), alpha-[SiVW₁₀O₄₀]⁵⁻, Na_(5(+1.9))[SiV_(1(−0.1))MoW_(10(+0.1))], LaMnO₃, LaCoO₃, H₂MoO₄ and Fe₂(MoO₄)₃. POMs may be utilized as catalysts in conjunction of O₂ or H₂O₂ as oxidants.

Homogenous catalysts applicable in step (3)(a) of the inventive method include simple metal salt-based catalysts. These may typically utilized in conjunction with O₂ as oxidant. Metal salt-based catalysts of interest as catalysts in step (3)(a) of the inventive method include Co(OAc)₂/Mn(OAc)₂, Co(OAc)₂/Mn(OAc)₂/HBr, Co(OAc)₂/Zr(OAc)₄/HBr, Mn(OAc)₂, CuSO₄, CuSO₄/FeCl₃, Cu(OH)₂, FeCl₃, Fe₂O₃, NaBr 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl-radical (TEMPO), CuO, and CoO.

Homogenous catalysts applicable in step (3)(a) of the inventive method further include miscellaneous catalysts, including hexacyanoruthenate(II)), Ru/CN)₆ ⁴⁺, tris-(4,4′-dimetyl-2,2′-bipyridine)iron(II) and [Cu(phen)(OH)₂].

In principle, step (3)(a) of the inventive method can be performed with any of the aforementioned homogenous catalysts.

Preferably, the employed catalyst may comprise a metal ion, preferably selected from Co(II), Cu(II), Fe(II) and Fe(III), more preferably Fe(III). Alternatively, the catalyst may comprise a metalloid element. The “metalloid element” and/or the metal ion is/are preferably provided as coordination complex or, alternatively, as a salt. In such a coordination complex, a metalloid element or metal ion forms the coordination center. Typically, a “metalloid” is a chemical element with metallic and non-metallic properties. Metalloid may be any element selected from boron, silicon, germanium, arsenic, antimony, tellurium, aluminum, and selenium. A metalloid may have a metallic appearance, it is typically brittle and only a fair conductor of electricity. Chemically, it may behave mostly like a non-metal. Metalloid comprising agents are particularly useful as catalysts. Preferably, the metalloid catalyst comprises the metalloids B(III), Si(IV) and/or Al(III). The metalloid catalyst may preferably be a boron catalyst, comprising preferably B(III). As an example: When using a boron catalyst, step (3 (a)) may be a hydroboration-oxidation reaction, which is preferably a two-step organic reaction. It converts, e.g., an alkene into a neutral alcohol by the net addition of water to the double bond. The hydrogen and hydroxyl group are preferably added in syn addition providing an alcohol in cis stereochemistry. Hydroboration-oxidation typically reflects an anti-Markovnikov reaction, with the hydroxyl group being attached to the less-substituted carbon.

More preferably, the homogeneous catalyst in step (3(a)) is selected from the group consisting of a salt, a coordination complex, a zeolite, a polyoxometalate, and a combination of any of them. Any such catalysts preferably comprises a metal ion selected from Co(II), Cu(II), Fe(II) and Fe(III), most preferably Fe(III).

(Synthetic) zeolites are typically microporous, aluminosilicate minerals, which are known as adsorbents and catalysts. Zeolites are widely used as catalysts in the petrochemical industry, for instance in fluid catalytic cracking and hydrocracking. Zeolites may also be used as active catalytic solid-state acids in applications other than in petrochemistry. Hence, zeolites may facilitate numerous acid-catalyzed reactions, as they may be foreseen for the present invention. They may be employed as catalysts for the oxidative cracking reaction e.g. of step (3(a)) of the present inventive method.

Catalysts reflecting polyoxometalate(s) (POM(s)) are polyatomic ions, usually anions that may be composed of three or more transition metal oxyanions, which are linked together by shared oxygen atoms to form a closed 3-dimensional framework. POMs may advantageously be employed for oxidation of organic compounds, in particular for oxidation of the fraction of modified lignin-derived components isolated in step (2).

It is preferred that oxidative cracking according to step (3(a)) may be performed in the presence of a metal catalyst, in particular a Cu(II) or Fe(III) containing catalyst. Alternatively, a Co(II) comprising catalyst may be employed. The catalyst is preferably a heterogeneous catalyst, but may also be a homogeneous catalyst. The metal catalyst, in particular the Cu(II) or Fe (III) containing catalyst, is preferably a (metal or metalloid) salt. The oxidative cracking reaction is preferably carried out under elevated temperature and/or pressure conditions.

The reaction of step (3(a)) may be carried out at a temperature of 30 to 400° C., preferably 100 to 350° C. The temperature chosen for that reaction is selected such that it is significantly lower than pyrolytic temperatures, e.g. lower than 1000° C. or 800° C. or lower than 500° C. By such a lower temperature reaction, the reaction products are typically less diverse than by a purely pyrolytic reaction (or pyrolytic decomposition).

For example, the solution comprising the fraction of modified lignin-derived components of step (2), e.g. lignosulfonate, is made alkaline, preferably by adjusting the pH value to at least 9. The medium may preferably also be acidic. The metal and/or metalloid catalyst, in particular the Fe(III) containing catalyst, may be added thereafter to that solution. Said catalyst comprising solution may be heated to a temperature of at least 150° C., preferable to a temperature of 150 to 300° C., more preferably 160-170° C. The pressure may be set to an overpressure of at least 5 atm, preferably from 10 to 12 atm. When applying such temperature and pressure conditions, cracking occurs and oxidizing may typically take place simultaneously due to the air's oxygen as oxidizing agent.

In contrast to employing air as oxidizing agent, step (3(a)) employing a metal and/or metalloid catalyst, in particular the Fe(III) containing catalyst, may be conducted in an oxygen enriched environment, more preferably under increased pressure, in particular increased oxygen partial pressure. Said pressure may—preferably under alkaline conditions—be at least 3 bar p(O₂), more preferably 4 to 5 bar p(O₂). Under acidic conditions, the p(O₂) may advantageously be at least 10 bar, sometimes at least 20 bar. Further advantageously, an alcohol, preferably methanol, may be added to the reaction to avoid re-polymerisation of the lignin-derived components.

The alcohol may be added in an amount of at least 5%, preferably at least 10%, more preferably at least 20%, even more preferably at least 30%, even more preferably at least 40%, even more preferably at least 50%, even more preferably at least 60%, even more preferably at least 70%, most preferably at least 80% with respect to the total reaction volume.

The alcohol, in particular methanol, may be recovered before or after isolation/purification of the target compound in step (4) of the inventive method. In the recovery step, the alcoholic ingredient, in particular methanol, is preferably recovered by heating and vaporization. The recovery step is preferably performed after isolation step (4) of the inventive method.

Oxidative cracking is preferably carried out in a single reaction vessel, preferably simultaneously. The temperature is preferably at least 150° C., more preferably at least 170° C.

The reaction may be carried out in solution under constant stirring, e.g. above 500, 600, 700, 800, 900 or 1.000 rpm. Said oxidation in the presence of an oxygen environment may be performed in a fluidized bed reactor, particularly a reactor comprising a sand bed. Under such conditions, the temperature may be set to at least 250° C., preferably to at least 300° C. Thereby, the oxidation rate may advantageously be increased. Upon application of a fluidized bed reactor, less desired or undesired by-products other than the target aromatic or phenolic compounds are preferably less frequently observed, which is preferred for step (3) of the inventive method.

In accordance with the above, step (3) (a) oxidative cracking of the modified lignin-derived components is preferably carried out in the presence of an oxidizing agent and a heterogeneous or homogeneous catalyst comprising (a)a metal ion selected from Co(II), Cu(II), Fe(II) and Fe(III); or (b) a metalloid component selected from B(III), Si(IV) and Al(III) preferably at a temperature of 30-400° C., more preferably 100-350° C. Preferred homogenous catalysts employed in step (3)(a) include those selected from the group consisting of a salt, a coordination complex, a zeolite and a polyoxometalate comprising a metal ion selected from Co(II), Cu(II), Fe(II) and Fe(III).

(b) Reductive Cracking of Modified Lignin-Derived Components

In the alternative, decomposition in step (3) may be carried out by reductive cracking the fraction of modified lignin-derived components isolated in step (2), which is typically conduted in the presence of a reducing agent (alternative (b)) and a suitable catalyst. By alternative step (3(b)), the fraction of modified lignin-derived components is therefore reduced, typically by addition of a reducing agent. A “reducing agent” is understood as an agent which “donates” electron(s) to another chemical species (electron donor).

The reducing agent is preferably hydrogen or an alcohol as H-donor. Such a reaction under reducing conditions typically also requires a suitable catalyst.

Heterogenous catalysts applicable for reductive cracking according to step (3)(b) of the inventive method include, without limitation, Cu.CrO, Raney Ni, Rh, Pd. FeS, Co—Mo, Ni—Mo, Co—Mo—P, Fe₂O₃, Mo, Ni—Mo—P, Mo₂N, Ni—W, Rh—Co, Ni—Cu, NiO—MoO₃, MoO₃Ru, M or M—Mo (wherein M is selected from Co, Cu, Ir, Ru, Pd, Fe, Rh, Pt or Ni). Optionally, the support (i.e. a material to which the catalyst is affixed) may be selected from carbon, Al₂O₃, TiO₂, SiO₂—Al₂O₃, ZrO₂, CeO₂, zeolite, MgO or nothing.

A homogeneous catalyst may, however, alternatively be employed in step (3)(b) of the inventive method. Suitable homogenous catalysts include (1,5-hexadiene)RhCl dimer, colloidal rhodium, [(1,5-C₆H₁₀)RhCl]₂, rhodium nanoparticles, [(C₆H₆)Ru₄H_(4])]Cl₂, [(Ru(C₅H₅)Cl(TPPDS)₂], NaBH₄+I₂, and RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃.

Preferably, a heterogeneous catalyst comprising, e.g., a metal selected from nickel, platinum, palladium, ruthenium, rhenium and gold may be employed. The catalyst is preferably provided on the surface of a support material preferably selected from the group consisting of active carbon, silica, titaniumoxide and/or aluminumoxide. Thereby, the lignin-derived components may be subject to e.g. hydrogen based “lysis” by cleavage of carbon-carbon or carbon-heteroatom single bonds (hydrogenolysis).

The catalyst typically employed by step (3(b)) is a heterogeneous catalyst, which is defined as a catalyst provided in another phase, typically in solid or gaseous phase, than the reactant(s), which are typically provided in solution. A homogeneous catalyst may, however, alternatively be employed. For the present method, the modified lignin-derived components are typically provided in solution and the catalyst is usually provided as solid matter. Generally, heterogeneous catalysis provides the advantage that reaction products may readily be separated from the catalyst component. Advantageously, heterogeneous catalysts are usually more stable and decompose more slowly than homogeneous catalysts. They may be recycled.

For example, reductive cracking of the fraction of modified lignin-derived components isolated in step (2) may be carried out by means of a catalyst comprising nickel, e.g. supported on activated carbon (Ni/C). Therein, a fragmentation-hydrogenolysis process of the modified lignin into lower molecular weight lignin-derived target compounds, e.g. di- or monomeric phenolic target compounds, in alcoholic solvents over nickel-based catalysts may be performed. This reaction involves hydrogenolysis of modified lignin components into di- or monomeric phenolic compounds over nickel catalysts, wherein alcohol is preferably the source of active hydrogen as the reducing agent.

In an alternative example, the fraction of modified lignin-derived components from step (2) may be preferably cracked and reduced in the presence of Ruthenium deposited on a carbon catalyst (Ru/C) in preferably an organic solvent, such as methanol, under a reducing atmosphere, such as an H₂ atmosphere, preferably at elevated temperatures. Such a reaction preferably provides, other than residual carbohydrate pulp, lignin oil. The resulting phenol-rich lignin oil typically consist more than 50% (w/w) of phenolic monomers as target compounds of the present invention(mainly) and 10% to 25%, preferably less than 20% (w/w) of phenolic dimers. The obtainable target compounds by that reaction (or alternative reactions) are one or more of syringol, in particular 4-n-propylsyringol, 4-ethylphenol, and guaiacol, in particular 4-ethylguaiacol and 4-n-propylguaiacol.

Alternatively, steps (1) (degradation) and (3) (decomposition) may be combined, which does preferably not require step (2). The combined degradation/decomposition reaction (steps (1) and (3) combined) mode of the inventive method may preferably, but not necessarily be carried out by employing step (3(b)) according to the inventive method. Therein, the natural lignocellulosic material provided in step (1) may be delignified through simultaneous solvolysis and catalytic hydrogenolysis of the lignin material in one single step. Combined solvolysis and catalytic hydrogenolysis may preferably be carried out in the presence of Ruthenium preferably deposited on a carbon catalyst (Ru/C), preferably in an organic solvent, such as methanol, under a reducing atmosphere, such as an H₂ atmosphere. The reaction is preferably carried out at elevated temperatures. The resulting product of combined solvolysis and catalytic hydrogenolysis may be further processed as described herein to obtain a purified fraction of low molecular weight aromatic lignin-derived (mono- or dimeric) compounds.

In accordance with the above, step (3) (b) reductive cracking of the modified lignin-derived components is preferably carried out in the presence of a reducing agent, preferably hydrogen or a hydrogen donating alcohol, and a heterogeneous catalyst comprising a metal selected from nickel, platinum, palladium, ruthenium, rhenium and gold, preferably provided on the surface of a support material, preferably selected from the group consisting of active carbon, silica, titaniumoxide and aluminumoxide.

Further advantageously, an alcohol, preferably methanol, may be added to the reaction to avoid re-polymerisation of the lignin-derived components.

(c) Electro-Oxidation of Modified Lignin-Derived Components

Finally, decomposition in step (3) may be carried out by electro-oxidation (alternative (c)).

With regard to step (3)(c), “electro-oxidation” is understood as oxidation at the surface of an electrode and/or in an electrical (electrochemical) cell. Specifically, “electro-oxidation” is defined as an electrochemical process, wherein the oxidation reaction occurs by applying an electric field between two electrodes, e.g. a working electrode and a counter electrode, for the oxidation reaction to take place. Preferably, any such electrical cell employed by step (3(c) is a single galvanic cell or a flow cell. A flow cell is characterized by the ionic solution (electrolyte) passing continuously or batch-wise through the cell. The ionic solution is typically stored in separate storage tanks.

The “working electrode” (electrode in an electrochemical system, on which the reaction of interest takes place) is cathodic or anodic, respectively, depending on whether the reaction on the electrode is reduction or oxidation. Common working electrodes may comprise inert metals, such as gold, silver or platinum, or inert carbon, such as glassy carbon or pyrolytic carbon, or mercury drop and film electrodes. The working electrode employed by the present invention may alternatively also be a nickel or nickel alloy electrode. The counter electrode may be a platinum electrode, in particular whenever the working electrode is a nickel electrode. The electrodes may be, for example, sintered electrodes, which preferably benefit from extended life time and show a higher oxidation capacity than other technologies. Electro-oxidation may be advantageous, as it provides instant operation on demand (“on/off”). Further, no aggressive chemicals are required, and reaction temperatures may be kept low. As the large diversity of by-products is avoided, it allows to efficiently produce lower molecular weight aromatic lignin-derived target compounds. As compared to thermal decomposition methods, energy consumption is reduced.

The electro-oxidation reaction may preferably performed in strong alkaline solution of at least pH 10, and preferably, constant current is applied. Preferred is electro-oxidation carried out galvanostatically at pH 10 to 14. Preferably, the solution comprising the modified lignin-derived components, e.g. lignosulfonate, acts as anolyte and, typically, NaOH solution as catholyte. In general, an anolyte is the part of the electrolyte, which is under direct influence of the anode upon electrolysis. Correspondingly, a catholyte is the part of the electrolyte, which is under direct influence of the cathode upon electrolysis. Alternatively, electro-oxidation may preferably also be carried out under acidic conditions. Further, the modified lignin-derived components in solution may serve as anolyte and catholyte at the same time. Advantageously, no (semi-permeable) membrane is required for the inventive method. In terms of the electrolyte, no specific electrolyte is required, if the reaction is carried out in acidic or alkaline medium. Alternatively or additionally, a salt or distinct salts, preferably an alkali salt, may be added to the electrolyte, e.g. a sodium salt, preferably sodium sulfate.

In accordance with the above, step (3) alternative (c) electrooxidation is preferably carried out galvanostatically, preferably at a pH from pH 1 to 14.

Electro-oxidation may also directly yield the target compounds (e.g. quinones). In such cases, the isolation/purification step (4) may be omitted.

(d) Other Methods

Chemical decomposition in step (3) of the inventive method may also be accomplished using other methods as described herein.

Enzymatic decomposition according to step (3) (d) of the inventive method may be accomplished by contacting the modified lignin-derived components with suitable enzymes (or organisms producing the same, in particular fungi) under appropriate conditions. Enzymes of interest in this regard include inter alia oxidases, peroxidases and hydrolytic enzymes, e.g. derived from Phaerochaete chrososporium or Pycnoporus cinnabarinus.

Photooxidation according to step (3) alternative (d) may involve subjecting the modified lignin-derived components to visible or UV light, typically with a wavelength of up to 500 nm.

Alternatively, step (3)(d) of the inventive method may comprise chemical decomposition in ionic liquids. Ionic liquids are composed of ionic organic/inorganic salts that are liquid at low temperature (<100° C.). They typically have low vapour pressures, are chemically and thermally stable and are able to dissolve in a wide range of compounds. Various decomposition reactions can be carried out in ionic liquids, for instance acetylation, acid hydrolysis, heat treatment, acylation of enzymatic treatment as described above. Ionic liquids of interest for the decomposition of the lignin-derived components of the invention include those comprising alkylsulfonates, lactates, acetates, chlorides or phosphates as anions. One of the most important advantages of some ionic liquids (e.g. 1-H-3-Methylimidazolium chloride, 1-ethyl-3-imidazolium chloride) is their ability to act as both an acidic catalyst and a solvent. Such ionic liquids may be particularly preferred. Ionic liquids may be used in conjunction with suitable transition metal catalysts (e.g. 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium diethylphosphate and CoCl₂ □ 6 H₂O, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethylsulfonate and Mn(NO₃)₂) which may promote the decomposition of modified lignin-derived components.

Optionally, the above-mentioned alternatives may be combined with each other. E.g., a synergistic combination of photo-electrocatalysis using a three-electrode iridium oxide system coupled with UV light may be employed. A combination of enzyme-based approaches and ionic liquid is described above.

Step (4): Isolation and Optional Modification and Purification of Precursor Compounds

Finally, in step (4), the lmw (aromatic) lignin-derived precursor compounds provided by the chemical decomposition step (3) is subjected to an isolation step (sub-step (4.1)). As indicated above, any of the methods according to (3)(a)-(c) (or (d)) can be employed for chemical decomposition of the modified starting materials. Chemical decomposition according to (3)(a)-(c) preferably yields lmw (aromatic) lignin-derived precursor compounds that are purified in step (4) of the inventive method.

Hereby, the lignin-derived lmw (aromatic) precursor compounds may isolated from, e.g., higher molecular weight aromatic lignin components and/or preferably from other non-lignin-derived residual components, including e.g. inorganic reactive agents. In step (4), the desired lignin-derived precursor compounds are thus separated from (residual) higher molecular weight aromatic lignin-derived components and/or other non-lignin-derived residual components, which have not been decomposed or decomposed to a less significant degree, or which have adversely re-polymerized (sub-step (4.1)). The lmw aromatic lignin-derived compounds may further be subjected to annulation reactions (sub-step (4.2)), oxidation reactions (sub-step (4.3)) and one or more purification step(s) (sub-step (4.4)), and/or derivatization reactions (sub-step (4.5)) wherein sub-steps (4.1) to (4.5) may be performed in any suitable order.

Thereby, step (4) yields the precursor compounds that are subsequently modified to yield the sulfonated redox active target compounds particularly envisaged for use as redox flow battery electrolytes.

The obtained precursor compounds may optionally further be subjected to annulation and/or oxidation reactions, before being modified in step (5) of the inventive method.

Precursor Compounds

The lignin-derived lmw (aromatic) precursor compounds isolated in step (4.1) of the inventive method are preferably monomers comprising one (typically monocyclic) aromatic ring system or dimers comprising typically two (non-annulated, typically monocyclic) aromatic rings, which may preferably be linked by a linker moiety, preferably an aliphatic linker, or by a bond. The precursor compounds obtained in step (4) of the inventive method thus preferably qualify as “aromatic” compounds.

The term “aromatic” refers to a compound, which fulfills the criterion of aromaticity—as it is generally defined in the art. Therein, the term “aromatic” is typically used to describe a cyclic, i.e. ring-shaped, and planar system that exhibits increased stability as compared to linear, i.e. line-shaped, molecules with the same number of atoms. As a result of its increased stability, the aromatic system is less prone to react under conventional conditions. In terms of the electronic nature of the molecule, aromaticity describes a conjugated system usually described by alternating single and double bonds within the ring system. This configuration typically allows for the electrons in the molecule's pi system to be delocalized around the ring, increasing the molecules' stability. The most commonly encountered aromatic system in organic chemistry are benzene and its derivatives. The model description for benzene typically consists of two resonance forms, which corresponds to the double and single bonds superimposing to produce six one-and-a-half bonds. Benzene is more stable by its charge delocalization than is to be expected. Non-carbocyclic and/or non-hexacyclic aromatic systems understood to be aromatic as well, if they fulfill the aromaticity rules, such as heterocyclic aromatic compounds, di- tri- and tetracyclic compounds and compounds having any n-membered rings such as 5-membered rings. Any aromatic functional group may be designated as “aryl group”. Aromatic compounds are commonly isolated in the art from petroleum or its refined fractions.

A lignin-derived lmw (aromatic) precursor compound envisaged to be isolated by step (4) typically exhibits a molecular weight of less than 1.000 Da, preferably less than 700 Da, more preferably less than 500 Da, most preferably of about 100 to 500 Da, e.g. 200 to 400 Da. It typically has a size in the order of 10⁻⁹ m or less. Preferably, such a precursor compound is based on a monomer or, alternatively, a homo- or heterodimer of the polymeric natural lignin, which may have been modified in the pulping process of step (1.2) of the inventive method. “Monomers” essentially correspond to the (repetitive) building blocks of polymeric natural lignin. A “monomer” may be any building block of the natural lignin polymer, which may be modified in step (1). “Monomers” of the natural lignin polymer are typically of aromatic nature (e.g. contain an aromatic ring system), but may be diverse in terms of their specific chemical character.

Typically, precursor compounds are monocyclic phenolic derivatives or encompass two such monomeric moieties each containing individual (non-annulated) phenolic ring systems, respectively. Specifically, the precursor compound may comprise one single benzene-derived (substituted) aromatic ring system.

For a dimeric precursor compound, the ring systems may be directly connected by a bond. Alternatively, two monomeric moieties containing an aromatic ring system each may be connected by a linker group, e.g. an aliphatic linker group, to form a homo- or heterodimer, typically a heterodimer. A heterodimer exhibits two aromatic ring systems with individual (distinct) substitution patterns. It may be preferred for the dimer to represent the basic chemical structure of two (substituted) aromatic ring systems directly linked by a bond to form a bi-phenylic ring system. Precursor compounds comprising two aromatic ring systems may thus preferably form a biphenylic moiety. Preferably, the one or more carbocyclic ring(s) of the precursor compounds may be carbocyclic. Precursor compounds obtained by the inventive method may thus comprise carbocyclic benzene or its benzene derivatives, such as phenolic derivatives. While compounds essentially comprising benzene-derived aromatic ring systems and its derivatives are preferred, aromatic precursor compounds comprising biphenylic, bi- and multicyclic (annulated) aromatic systems may likewise be envisaged.

The aromatic ring(s) of the lignin-derived precursor compound is/are preferably substituted in at least one, preferably in at least two positions by a functional group, wherein the at least one functional group is preferably alkoxy or hydroxyl. Therein, a monocyclic precursor compound is typically substituted in at least two positions by a functional group, wherein the functional group is preferably alkoxy or hydroxyl. A precursor compound having two ring systems, in particular a biphenylic compound, is typically substituted in at least one position per aromatic ring by a functional group. Preferably, each ring system exhibits its individual substitution pattern being different from the other substitution pattern of the other ring system. Preferably, the at least one functional group is alkoxy or hydroxyl.

Specifically, the at least one lignin-derived lmw aromatic precursor compound may be characterized by general Formula (Ia):

wherein

-   -   each of R¹-R⁵ is independently selected from hydrogen, hydroxy,         carboxy, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkyl,         linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkenyl, linear         or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alcohol, linear or         branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ aminoalkyl, linear or         branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ carboxyalkyl, linear or         branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, linear or         branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ aldehyde, ester, oxo or         carbonyl; and     -   R⁶ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy,         linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ carboxyl,         linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ aldehyde, and         linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alcohol.

Alternatively, the at least one lignin-derived lmw aromatic precursor compound may be characterized by general Formula (Ib):

-   -   each of R¹-R⁹ is independently selected from hydrogen, hydroxy,         carboxy, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkyl,         linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkenyl, linear         or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alcohol, linear or         branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ aminoalkyl, linear or         branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ carboxyalkyl, linear or         branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, linear or         branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ aldehyde, ester, oxo or         carbonyl; wherein R⁵ is preferably hydroxy or optionally         substituted C₁₋₆ alkoxy; and     -   R¹⁰ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy,         linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ carboxyl,         linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ aldehyde, and         linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alcohol.

Alternatively, the at least one lignin-derived lmw aromatic precursor compound may be characterized by general Formula (Ia):

wherein

-   -   each of R¹-R⁵ is independently selected from H, optionally         substituted C₁₋₆ alkyl, optionally substituted C₁₋₆ alkenyl,         halogen, optionally substituted C₁₋₆ alkoxy, amino, nitro,         phosphoryl, and phosphonyl; wherein at least one of R¹, R³ or R⁵         is hydroxy or optionally substituted C₁₋₆ alkoxy; and     -   R⁶ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy,         linear or branched C₁₋₆ carboxyl, linear or branched C₁₋₆         aldehyde, and linear or branched C₁₋₆ alcohol, or by general         Formula (Ib):

-   -   each of R¹-R⁹ is independently selected from H, optionally         substituted C₁₋₆ alkyl, optionally substituted C₁₋₆ alkenyl,         halogen, optionally substituted C₁₋₆ alkoxy, amino, nitro,         phosphoryl, and phosphonyl; wherein R⁵ is preferably hydroxy or         optionally substituted C₁₋₆ alkoxy; and     -   R¹⁰ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy,         linear or branched C₁₋₆ carboxyl, linear or branched C₁₋₆         aldehyde, and linear or branched C₁₋₆ alcohol.

As used herein, “Hydrogen” is H. “Hydroxy” or “Hydroxyl” is —OH. “Carboxy” or “carboxyl” is preferably —COOH. An exemplary ion of carboxy is —COO⁻. The term “alkyl” refers to a saturated aliphatic groups, including linear (straight-chain) and branched alkyl groups, cycloalkyl (alicyclic) groups, alkyl substituted cycloalkyl groups, and cycloalkyl substituted alkyl groups. The term “alkenyl” refers to unsaturated aliphatic groups analogous in length and possible substitution to the alkyls described above, but that contain at least one C—C double bound. The term “alkoxy” or “alkoxyl” refer to an alkyl group, as defined above, having an oxygen radical attached thereto. Representative alkoxyl groups include methoxy, ethoxy, propyloxy, tert-butoxy and the like. “Alkoxy” thus preferably refers to a group of formula —OR, wherein R is preferably an alkyl group, as defined herein. The term “aldehyde” refers to a group of formula —RCHO, wherein R is preferably selected from H or an alkyl group as defined above. “Halogen” is fluoro, chloro, bromo, or iodo. The terms “amine” and “amino” refer to both unsubstituted and substituted amines, i.e. groups of formula —NR¹R¹R³, wherein R¹, R² and R³ are independently selected from H and an alkyl group or another functional group. The term includes “amino” (—NH₂). An exemplary ion of amino is —NH₃ ⁺. The term further includes primary amines, wherein one of R¹, R² and R³ is an alkyl group or other functional group. The term further includes secondary amines, wherein two R¹, R² and R³ are independently selected from an alkyl group or other functional group. The term further includes tertiary amines, wherein all of R¹, R² and R³ are independently selected from an alkyl group or other functional group. The term “amide” refers to a group of formula —RC(O)NR¹R², wherein R¹ and R² are independently selected from H, alkyl, or alkenyl. “Nitro” is —NO₂. “Oxo” is ═O. The term “carbonyl” refers to a group of the formula —R¹C(O)R², wherein R¹ and R² are independently selected from nothing, a bond, H, O, S, alkyl, or alkenyl. “Phosphoryl” is —PO₃H₂. Exemplary ions of phosphoryl are —PO₃H⁻ and —PO₃ ²⁻. “Phosphonyl” is —PO₃R₂, wherein each R is independent H or alkyl, as defined herein. An exemplary ion of phosphoryl is —PO₃K. “Cyanide” is —CN. “Sulfonyl” is —SO₃H. An exemplary ion of sulfonyl is —SO₃—.

Preferably, the at least one lignin-derived lmw aromatic precursor compound is selected from the group consisting of phenolic derivatives of biphenyl, benzylalcohol, benzalde-hydes and benzoic acid, preferably derivatives of p-hydroxy benzylalcohol, p-hydroxy benzaldehydes and p-hydroxy benzoic acid, or more preferably vanillin, guaiacol, eugenol, syringol, phenol, syringaldehyde, and/or a derivative of any of the above, and/or a combination of the above.

Preferred are lignin-derived precursor compounds, which are represented by the following structures and corresponding esters:

Monomeric lignin-derived precursor compounds containing one aromatic ring are typically derived from a monomer of the modified lignin-derived component. Dimeric lignin-derived precursor compounds containing two aromatic rings, which form a biphenylic system, are obtainable by choosing the appropriate lignocellulosic starting material, which encompasses such moieties, e.g. from spruce. Such a biphenylic system typically comprises phenylbenzene or 1,1′-biphenyl as essential chemical structure. Biphenylic moieties are typically formed by 5-5-linkage of natural lignin monomers. Such a bond occurs more frequently in softwood than in hardwood. For example, spruce may comprise more than 15%, preferably more than 20%, even more preferred more than 25% biphenylic moieties among its phenyl-propane units making up its natural lignin. Whenever biphenylic precursor compounds are envisaged, it may be preferred to use spruce wood as a lignocellulosic starting material in step (1) of the inventive method. Biphenylic precursor compounds may be further processed by chemical reactions, e.g. in further oxidizing reactions, in order to provide e.g. redox active compounds for multiple beneficial uses.

Sub-Step (4.1) Isolation of Precursor Compositions and—Compounds

Isolation sub-step (4.1) of the inventive method is another isolation step, which may preferably comprise subjecting the product obtained from chemical decomposition step (3) to filtration and/or extraction, preferably filtration, to obtain lignin-derived lmw (aromatic) precursor compounds as defined above (or compositions comprising or (essentially) consisting thereof). Said precursor compounds are isolated in sub-step (4.1) from other components resulting from decomposition of step (3), e.g. fragments other than the monomeric or dimeric precursor compounds, by appropriate techniques.

“Fragments” of the modified lignin-derived components are typically larger in molecular weight than the monomeric or dimeric precursor compounds, but have typically a lower molecular weight than the modified lignin-derived components obtained by step (2) of the inventive method. Such fragments are typically not understood to be precursor compounds of the inventive method. Instead, they may comprise or they are tri- or n-mers of the building blocks of the modified lignin-derived components. Such fragments resulting from the decomposition step are typically oligomers being of smaller molecular weight than the modified lignin-derived components obtainable in the pulping process of sub-step (1.2). However, such fragments may vary significantly in size and in their molecular weight, as the lignin-derived components vary.

Filtration may be selected from ultrafiltration and nanofiltration, which may be carried out by an ultrafiltration and/or nanofiltration cell, preferably having a pre-filtration section for increasing the efficiency of the filtration step (e.g. avoidance of membrane blockade, e.g. by higher molecular weight lignin-derived components). Stirred ultrafiltration cells as described by Duval et al. (Holzforschung 2015, 69, 127-134) may be applied as well. Preferably, the ultrafiltration and/or nanofiltration cell comprises at least one molecular weight cut-off unit, preferably at least two molecular weight cut-off units allowing to isolate lignin-derived precursor compounds within a molecular weight range, which reflects the molecular weight of monomeric and dimeric target compounds, e.g. from 150 Da to 1.000 Da or from 150 to 500 Da. Preferably, a cascade of cut-off units (e.g. strating with one or more ultrafiltration cell(s) and one or more subsequent nanofiltration cell(s) with preferably decreasing cut-off values may be employed to fractionate the resulting lignin-derived decomposition products obtained in step (3). The decomposition products obtained in step (3) may usually be fractionated in solution or may be isolated as dried matter and be re-dissolved thereafter, if required.

Preferably, isolation sub-step (4.1) thus comprises filtration and/or extraction, preferably ultrafiltration and/or nanofiltration by an ultrafiltration and/or nanofiltration cell, preferably having a pre-filtration section. Filtration in sub-step (4.1) is preferably carried out in a ultrafiltration and/or nanofiltration cell comprising at least one molecular weight cut-off unit, preferably at least two molecular weight cut-off units, wherein the at least one molecular weight cut-off unit has a cut-off level preferably of 1 kDa to 1.5 kDa.

Preferably, the ultra- and/or nanofiltration may be followed by further purification steps (step 4.4) to increase purity of the lignin-derived lmw (aromatic) precursor compounds. For example, diafiltration against water may be used to remove residual sugars and reactive agents from the low molecular weight precursor compound fraction. Alternatively, the lignin-derived precursor compounds can be isolated by extraction, optionally followed by fractional distillation.

Decomposition reactions which are characterized by reaction conditions bearing the risk of re-polymerization of the lignin-derived material to be decomposed are preferably avoided by step (4) of the inventive method. Nevertheless, any such re-polymerized by-products may still result from step (4), which need to be eliminated downstream of the inventive method. Components other than the precursor compounds are either discarded, e.g. for combustion, or recycled by another step of decomposition (e.g. a second decomposition reaction according to step (3)).

By step (4.1), monomeric or dimeric lignin-derived precursor compounds (obtained from the decomposition reaction of, e.g. lignosulfonate, by step (3)) are isolated from the other fragments of the decomposition step (3). Thereby, lignin-derived precursor compounds as described above are obtained. Said lignin-derived precursor compounds may be isolated in the form of a (precursor) composition comprising or preferably (essentially) consisting of said precursor compounds, which (essentially) does not comprise higher molecular weight (aromatic) lignin components and/or preferably from other non-lignin-derived residual components, including e.g. inorganic reactive agents. It is particularly envisaged that the lignin-derived (precursor) composition obtained in step (4) comprises several species (i.e. a mixture) of monomeric and dimeric lignin-derived lmw (aromatic) precursor compounds as defined above. Accordingly, the composition directly obtained from sub-step (4.1) or from su-step (4.2) or (4.3) of the inventive method may comprise at least one lignin-derived lmw (aromatic) precursor compound that comprises one or two aromatic (carbocyclic) ring(s), separated by a linker or directly linked by a bond (biphenylic compound). A compound comprising two aromatic rings is typically derived from two covalently linked monomers (dimer) of the modified lignin precursor component as the intermediate of the inventive method.

The monomeric or dimeric precursor compounds isolated by sub-step (4.1) may be further modified according to the present invention. They may e.g. be oxidized or chemically modified by other reactions, which may result in modified substitution patterns or modified ring structures, e.g. result in annulated ring systems (such as naphthalene or anthracene-derived compounds). Thus, the lignin-derived precursor compounds isolated by sub-step (4.1) may be subjected to other chemical reactions (sub-steps (4.2, 4.3) and may thereby comprise functional groups or aromatic ring systems not occurring in the modified lignin-derived components obtained by step (2). They may, e.g., be of higher or lower oxidation state, they may contain functional groups not occurring in natural lignin at all, and/or they may exhibit bi-, tri-, tetra- or pentacyclic (annulated) aromatic ring systems. A compound comprising two aromatic rings is typically derived from two covalently linked monomers (dimer) of the modified lignin-derived component as the intermediate of the inventive method. Specifically, the lignin-derived precursor compounds obtained from step (4) are intended for subsequent sulfonation according to step (5) to provide sulfonated redox active target compounds particularly envisaged for use as redox flow battery electrolytes.

Sub-Step (4.2): Annulation

A monocyclic precursor compound provided by any one of sub-steps (4.1), (4.3), (4.4) or (4.5) may either be provided as it is or preferably be further reacted in a sub-step (4.2) to an annulated aromatic compound, comprising at least two annulated aromatic rings (also referred to as a “polycyclic” compound herein) and which may preferably be bi-, tri-, tetra- or pentacyclic. Annulated bicyclic or pentacyclic compounds may be particularly preferred. They may be purified and further processed according to the present invention.

Such an aromatic annulated compound comprising more than one ring is of particular value as a precursor for further oxidation (sub-step (4.3)).

Said reaction type is typically known as annulation, which serves in organic chemistry as a chemical reaction, which allows to anneal two aromatic (mono-, di- or n-aromatic) ring systems. Preferably, the two or more precursor molecules of the annulation reaction are both or all e.g. monomeric or dimeric target compounds. The annulation is, for example, achieved by a Diels-Alder reaction or a Friedel-Crafts acylation.

It may be preferred that lignin-derived precursor compounds provided by sub-step (4.1) comprising one aromatic ring are further processed in a sub-step (4.2), wherein said lignin-derived precursor compound comprising one aromatic ring is subjected to an annulation reaction, preferably a Diels-Alder reaction or a Friedel-Crafts acylation, wherein the annulation reaction product may be a lignin-derived lmw aromatic bi- or tricyclic or polycyclic annulated precursor compound, wherein said compound may be characterized by general Formula (II), (III) or (IV)

-   -   1. The method according to claim 22, wherein the at least one         precursor compound comprises one aromatic ring and is further         processed in a sub-step (4.2), wherein said precursor compound         comprising one aromatic ring is subjected to an annulation         reaction, preferably a Diels-Alder reaction or a Friedel Crafts         acylation, wherein the annulation reaction product is a low         molecular weight aromatic bi- or tricyclic annulated aromatic         compound, wherein said compound is characterized by Formula         (II), (III) or (IV)

-   -   -   wherein             -   each of R², R³, R⁵-R⁸ of Formula (II) is independently                 selected from hydrogen, hydroxy, carboxy, linear or                 branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkyl, linear or                 branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkenyl, linear                 or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alcohol,                 linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆                 aminoalkyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted,                 C₁₋₆ carboxyalkyl, linear or branched, optionally                 substituted, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, linear or branched, optionally                 substituted, C₁₋₆ aldehyde, ester, oxo or carbonyl,                 wherein preferably at least one of R², R³, R⁵- R⁸ is                 hydroxy or C₁₋₃ alkoxy, and             -   R¹ and R⁴ of Formula (II) is/are selected from the group                 consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy, linear or branched,                 optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ carboxyl, linear or                 branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ aldehyde, and                 linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆                 alcohol,             -   each of R¹-R¹⁰ of Formula (III) is independently                 selected from hydrogen, hydroxy, carboxy, linear or                 branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkyl, linear or                 branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkenyl, linear                 or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alcohol,                 linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆                 aminoalkyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted,                 C₁₋₆ carboxyalkyl, linear or branched, optionally                 substituted, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, linear or branched, optionally                 substituted, C₁₋₆ aldehyde, ester, oxo or carbonyl,             -   wherein preferably at least one of R², R⁵, R⁶ and R⁸ is                 hydroxy or C₁₋₃ alkoxy, and             -   R¹, R⁴, R⁹ and R¹⁰ of Formula (III) is/are preferably                 selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy,                 linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆                 carboxyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted,                 C₁₋₆ aldehyde, and linear or branched, optionally                 substituted, C₁₋₆ alcohol,             -   each of R², R³ and R⁷-R¹⁰ of Formula (IV) is                 independently selected from hydrogen, hydroxy, carboxy,                 linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkyl,                 linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆                 alkenyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted,                 C₁₋₆ alcohol, linear or branched, optionally                 substituted, C₁₋₆ aminoalkyl, linear or branched,                 optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ carboxyalkyl, linear or                 branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, linear or                 branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ aldehyde, ester,                 oxo or carbonyl,             -   wherein preferably at least one of R², R³ and R⁷-R¹⁰ is                 hydroxy or C₁₋₃ alkoxy, and             -   R¹, R⁴, R⁵ and R⁶ of Formula (IV) is selected from the                 group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy, linear or                 branched, optionally substituted C₁₋₆ carboxyl, linear                 or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ aldehyde, and                 linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆                 alcohol.

Alternatively, said compound may be characterized by said compound may be characterized by General Formula (II), (III) or (IV)

wherein

-   -   each of R²-R⁷ of Formula (II) is independently selected from H,         optionally substituted C₁₋₆ alkyl, optionally substituted C₁₋₆         alkenyl, halogen, optionally substituted C₁₋₆ alkoxy, amino,         nitro, phosphoryl, phosphonyl, wherein at least one of R², R⁴,         R⁵, and R⁷ is hydroxy or C₁₋₃ alkoxy, and     -   R¹ and/or R⁸ of Formula (II) is/are selected from the group         consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy, linear or branched C₁₋₆         carboxyl, linear or branched C₁₋₆ aldehyde, linear or branched         C₁₋₆ ketone, and linear or branched C₁₋₆ alcohol,     -   each of R²-R⁸ of Formula (III) is independently selected from H,         optionally substituted C₁₋₆ alkyl, optionally substituted C₁₋₆         alkenyl, halogen, optionally substituted C₁₋₆ alkoxy, amino,         nitro, phosphoryl, phosphonyl, wherein at least one of R², R⁴,         R⁵, R⁶ and R⁸ is hydroxy or C₁₋₃ alkoxy, and     -   R¹, R⁹ and/or R¹⁰ of Formula (III) is/are selected from the         group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy, linear or branched C₁₋₆         carboxyl, linear or branched C₁₋₆ aldehyde, linear or branched         C₁₋₆ ketone, and linear or branched C₁₋₆ alcohol,     -   each of R²-R⁹ of Formula (IV) is independently selected from H,         optionally substituted C₁₋₆ alkyl, optionally substituted C₁₋₆         alkenyl, halogen, optionally substituted C₁₋₆ alkoxy, amino,         nitro, phosphoryl, phosphonyl, wherein at least one of R², R⁴,         R⁷, and R⁹ is hydroxy or C₁₋₃ alkoxy, and     -   R¹ and/or R¹⁰ of Formula (IV) is selected from the group         consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy, linear or branched C₁₋₆         carboxyl, linear or branched C₁₋₆ aldehyde, and linear or         branched C₁₋₆ alcohol.

(a) Friedel-Crafts Acylation

Preferably, the annulation reaction is a Friedel-Crafts acylation. This is particularly surprising as such acylation reactions were previously known preferably in the petrochemical field with regard to annulation reactions. Transferring said annulation reaction to compounds according to the present invention from renewable sources opens new synthesis options.

Friedel-Crafts acylation is the acylation of aromatic rings with an acyl chloride using a strong Lewis acid catalyst. Friedel-Crafts acylation is also possible with acid anhydrides. This reaction typically involves the acylation of an aromatic ring with an alkyl halide using a strong Lewis acid catalyst, e.g. an anhydrous ferric chloride as a catalyst.

(b) Diels-Alder Reaction

In the context of the present invention, a Diels-Alder reaction is understood as an organic chemical reaction, typically a [4+2] cycloaddition, between a conjugated diene and a substituted alkene, commonly termed the dienophile, to form a substituted cyclohexene system. Said formed cyclohexene system is preferably aromatic. The Diels-Alder reaction is particularly useful in synthetic organic chemistry as a reliable method for forming 6-membered systems with good control over regio- and stereochemical properties.

For example, through the conduction of a Diels-alder reaction, a monocyclic compound provided by sub-step (4.1) of the present invention may be extended to a bicyclic, tricyclic, tetracyclic or even higher n-cyclic compound. Without wanting to be bound by theory, it is believed that compounds with increased annulation are advantageous as further processed redox active compounds. For example, anthracene derivatives, which may be precursors for anthraquinone-derivatives, are one preferred example in the context of the present invention as they show that redox potentials decrease with increased annulation and, thus, the more annulated derivatives are more stable. This is of particular importance for compounds, which—according to a further aspect of the present invention—are preferably oxidized and sulfonated to a redox active target compound for versatile use, which compound advantageously requires a long operational life to be fit for practice. By providing redox active target compounds of increased stability, this important practical demand is met.

With an appropriate selection of a diene, it is possible to convert benzoquinone structures to naphthacenes, anthracene and/or phenanthrenes. The fusion of a benzene ring onto an existing monocyclic compound according to the present invention, preferably an oxidized compound such as quinone, may be accomplished on a ring which has two adjacent positions unsubstituted or substituted. However, unsubstituted positions are generally preferred due to higher yields. Hence, it is preferred in the context of the present invention that if a compound of more than one aromatic ring is desired, compounds are preferably subjected to further substitution reactions only after the annulation reaction was performed. It may be further advantageous in large-scale reactions to add one or more polymerization inhibitors known in the art. The Diels-alder reaction may be catalysed by any suitable catalyst known in the art, preferably by one or more metallic chlorides and/or zeolites. The subsequent oxidation step may or may not be necessary. If a reduced catalyst is still present from earlier reaction steps, the newly annulated ring may be instantly oxidized and aromatized, yielding in a multi-ring quinone. Alternatively, aeration in alkaline solution may be used, e.g., to obtain an anthraquinone derivative.

The condensation is preferably carried out prior to the optional downstream oxidation, and/or prior to derivatization in order to avoid, e.g. steric hindrance, and, in consequence, lower yields in condensed and derivatized product.

Sub-Step (4.3) Oxidation of Precursor Compounds

Preferably, monocyclic or annulated precursor compounds obtained from any one of sub-steps (4.1), (4.2), (4.4) or (4.5), respectively, are modified in a sub-step (4.3) by oxidation in the presence of (i) an oxidizing agent selected from the group consisting of H₂O₂, O₂ and air, and (ii) a heterogeneous catalyst comprising a metal ion or a metalloid, or performing homogeneous catalysis in the presence of NaOH (in which case, usually no catalyst comprising a metal ion or a metalloid is required). Preferably, said oxidation reaction yields at least one quinone and/or hydroquinone compound, or a composition comprising the same.

Preferably, Co(II) complexes may be employed because they have a high selectivity towards quinones. For example, (pyr)Co(II)salen may be employed in the presence of O₂ at overpressure, e.g. at least 3 bar. Such a reaction may preferably be conducted at room temperature in an organic solvent such as MeOH. Other preferred catalysts are Co(3-methoxysalen) and Co(N-N-Me salpr). In the latter case, the preferred organic solvent may be CH₂Cl₂. Said oxidation provides an oxidized lignin-derived lmw aromatic precursor compound, which is generally understood herein as hydroquinone compound according to the present invention and/or, upon further oxidation, as a quinone compound according to the present invention.

(a) Oxidation of Monocyclic Precursor Compounds to Hydroquinones

Oxidation of monocyclic precursor compounds preferably yields at least one hydroquinone compound (step (4.3)(a)), characterized by general Formula (Va):

-   -   wherein each of R¹-R⁵ is independently selected from hydrogen,         hydroxy, carboxy, linear or branched, optionally substituted,         C₁₋₆ alkyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆         alkenyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆         alcohol, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆         aminoalkyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆         carboxyalkyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆         alkoxy, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆         aldehyde, ester, oxo or carbonyl, and wherein one of R¹, R³ and         R⁵ is hydroxy;

or by general formula (Vb),

-   -   wherein each of R¹-R⁹ is independently selected from hydrogen,         hydroxy, carboxy, linear or branched, optionally substituted,         C₁₋₆ alkyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆         alkenyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆         alcohol, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆         aminoalkyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆         carboxyalkyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆         alkoxy, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆         aldehyde, ester, oxo or carbonyl; and wherein R⁵ is preferably         hydroxy.

Alternatively, oxidation of monocyclic precursor compounds may yield at least one hydroquinone compound (step (4.3)(a)), characterized by general Formula (Va):

-   -   wherein each of R¹-R⁵ is independently selected from optionally         substituted C₁₋₆ alkyl, optionally substituted C₁₋₆ alkenyl,         halogen, optionally substituted C₁₋₆ alkoxy, amino, carboxyl,         nitro, phosphoryl, and phosphonyl, and wherein one of R¹, R³ and         R⁵ is hydroxy;

or by general formula (Vb),

-   -   wherein each of R¹-R⁹ is independently selected from optionally         substituted C₁₋₆ alkyl, optionally substituted C₁₋₆ alkenyl,         halogen, optionally substituted C₁₋₆ alkoxy, amino, carboxyl,         nitro, phosphoryl, and phosphonyl; and wherein R⁵ is hydroxy.

Said hydroquinone compound is preferably a redox active compound, which may be beneficial in a variety of uses. Specifically, said hydroquinone compound may be further oxidized (e.g. in step (3)(b)) and/or subjected to a sulfonation reaction according to step (5) of the inventive method, wherein the resulting sulfonated redox active (hydro-)quinone compound is intended for use as a redox flow battery electrolyte.

(b) Oxidation of Monocyclic Precursor Compounds to Quinones

It is particularly preferred that step (4.3)—under harsher oxidation conditions than in step (4.3(a))—provides at least one quinone compound (step 4.3(b)), characterized by any of general Formulae (VIa) to (VIb):

-   -   wherein each of R¹-R² and R⁴-R⁵ is independently selected from         hydrogen, hydroxy, carboxy, linear or branched, optionally         substituted, C₁₋₆ alkyl, linear or branched, optionally         substituted, C₁₋₆ alkenyl, linear or branched, optionally         substituted, C₁₋₆ alcohol, linear or branched, optionally         substituted, C₁₋₆ aminoalkyl, linear or branched, optionally         substituted, C₁₋₆ carboxyalkyl, linear or branched, optionally         substituted, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, linear or branched, optionally         substituted, C₁₋₆ aldehyde, ester, oxo or carbonyl; or

-   -   wherein each of R²-R⁵ is independently selected from hydrogen,         hydroxy, carboxy, linear or branched, optionally substituted,         C₁₋₆ alkyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆         alkenyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆         alcohol, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆         aminoalkyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆         carboxyalkyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆         alkoxy, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆         aldehyde, ester, oxo or carbonyl; or

-   -   wherein each of R¹-R⁴ is independently selected from hydrogen,         hydroxy, carboxy, linear or branched, optionally substituted,         C₁₋₆ alkyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆         alkenyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆         alcohol, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆         aminoalkyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆         carboxyalkyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆         alkoxy, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆         aldehyde, ester, oxo or carbonyl; or

-   -   wherein each of R¹-R⁴ and R⁶-R⁹ is independently selected from         Hhydrogen, hydroxy, carboxy, linear or branched, optionally         substituted, C₁₋₆ alkyl, linear or branched, optionally         substituted, C₁₋₆ alkenyl, linear or branched, optionally         substituted, C₁₋₆ alcohol, linear or branched, optionally         substituted, C₁₋₆ aminoalkyl, linear or branched, optionally         substituted, C₁₋₆ carboxyalkyl, linear or branched, optionally         substituted, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, linear or branched, optionally         substituted, C₁₋₆ aldehyde, ester, oxo or carbonyl.

Alternatively, step (4.3)—under harsher oxidation conditions than in step (4.3(a))—provides at least one quinone compound (step 4.3(b)), may yield a compound characterized by any of general Formulae (VIa) to (VIb):

wherein each of R¹-R² and R⁴-R⁵ is independently selected from optionally substituted C₁₋₆ alkyl, optionally substituted C₁₋₆ alkenyl, halogen, optionally substituted C₁₋₆ alkoxy, amino, carboxyl, nitro, phosphoryl, and phosphonyl; or

-   -   wherein each of R²-R⁵ is independently selected from optionally         substituted C₁₋₆ alkyl, optionally substituted C₁₋₆ alkenyl,         halogen, optionally substituted C₁₋₆ alkoxy, amino, carboxyl,         nitro, phosphoryl, and phosphonyl; or

-   -   wherein each of R¹-R⁴ is independently selected from optionally         substituted C₁₋₆ alkyl, optionally substituted C₁₋₆ alkenyl,         halogen, optionally substituted C₁₋₆ alkoxy, amino, carboxyl,         nitro, phosphoryl, and phosphonyl; or

-   -   wherein each of R¹-R⁴ and R⁶-R⁹ is independently selected from         H, optionally substituted C₁₋₆ alkyl, halogen, optionally         substituted C₁₋₆ alkoxy, amino, nitro, carboxyl, phosphoryl, and         phosphonyl.

Quinone compounds characterized by any of Formulas (VI a) to (VI d) may also be provided by oxidizing the at least one hydroquinone compound provided by step (4.3(a)), for instance, in the cell stack of a battery or by an oxidant, optionally in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst. Usually, it is sufficient to provide a hydroquinone compound, which compound is redox active and may be oxidized or a part of the total amount of employed molecules of said hydroquinone compound may become oxidized.

It may be preferred to simultaneously accomplish both chemical decomposition of modified lignin-derived components (step (3)) and oxidation of lignin-derived precursor (optionally hydroquinone) compounds (sub-step 4.3 (a)-(c)). Therein, for example, (cracking and) oxidizing of a modified lignin-derived component (typically alternative (3(a)) or (3(c)) takes place, and instantaneously or concurrently, the component is oxidized to a (hydro-)quinone compound according to the present invention. Further, the step may involve an addition reaction to introduce further substituents of interest under suitable reaction conditions.

Advantageously, said combination may save time and resources in terms of reactants, reactive agents and/or process equipment and apparatus means. Accordingly, such a combination leads to significant more economic and simple method for producing redox active precursor compounds of renewable origin such as the (hydro-)quinone compounds according to the present invention. Such a combined method step is preferably facilitated by applying electrooxidation of step (3(c)), but catalyst-facilitated oxidation under (3(a)) may also be applied. Electrooxidation is preferred, wherein direct oxidation from a modified lignin such as lignosulfonate to a (hydro-)quinone compound is controlled by the respective set electrochemical conditions. Preferably, the modified lignin is diluted to a concentration below 20% (w/w), preferably below 10% (w/w), more preferably below 5% (w/w), even more preferably below 2% (w/w). The solution may have a pH of 1 to 14. Electrooxidation under acidic conditions is preferred. Alternatively, under alkaline conditions, the preferred pH is at least 11, more preferably at least 13. Electrooxidation is preferably conducted in a flow cell, wherein the flow is at least corresponding to 1 ml/min, preferably 10 ml/min or 50 ml/min, more preferably at least 200 ml/min, but may be up-scaled to significantly higher flows. Electrolysis may typically be conducted galvanostatically, preferably for at least 10 min, preferably at least 30 min, alternatively for at least 1 hour, preferably for at least 4 hours. Most preferred is a time period for conducting electrolysis of at least 30 min, e.g. to save time and resources. Preferably, electrolysis is carried out by applying a current of preferably at least 0.5 mA/cm², more preferably 1 mA/cm², even more preferably at least 5, 10 or 100 mA/cm2.

Oxidation of the hydroquinone compound obtained in sub-step (4.3(a)) may for example provide a compound represented by one or both of the following structures:

Wherein in the compound according to Formula (VIa-f), R¹, R³, R⁵ are independently selected from H, OH oder C₁₋₆ methoxy, preferably methoxy.

(c) Oxidation of Annulated Polycyclic Precursor Compounds to (Hydro-)quinones,

It is also preferred that (annulated) polycyclic precursor compounds obtained from sub-step (4.2) (in particular lignin-derived low molecular weight bi- or tricyclic aromatic precursor compounds) are further modified in a sub-step (4.3(c)) by oxidizing said precursor compound in the presence of (i) an oxidizing agent selected from the group consisting of H₂O₂, O₂ and air, and (ii) a heterogeneous catalyst comprising a metal ion or a metalloid, or performing homogeneous catalysis in the presence of NaOH (in which case, usually no catalyst comprising a metal ion or a metalloid is required), to obtain at least one quinone and/or hydroquinone compound, wherein said compound is characterized by any of general Formula (VII), (VIII) and/or (IX):

-   -   wherein each of R¹-R⁸with regard to Formula (VII) and/or each of         R¹-R¹⁰ with regard to Formula (VIII) and (IX) is independently         selected from hydrogen, hydroxy, carboxy, linear or branched,         optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkyl, linear or branched,         optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkenyl, linear or branched,         optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alcohol, linear or branched,         optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ aminoalkyl, linear or branched,         optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ carboxyalkyl, linear or branched,         optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, linear or branched,         optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ aldehyde, ester, oxo or carbonyl;     -   wherein at least one of R⁸ and R⁵ or R¹ and R⁴ of Formula (VII)         are hydroxy or oxo, or at least one of R⁹ and R⁶, R¹⁰ and R⁵, or         R¹ and R⁴ of Formula (VIII) are hydroxy or oxo, or at least one         of R¹⁰ and R⁷ or R¹ and R⁴ of Formula (IX) are hydroxy or oxo.

Alternatively, said compound may be characterized by any of general Formula (VII), (VIII) and/or (IX):

-   -   wherein each of R¹-R⁸with regard to Formula (VII) and/or each of         R₁-R¹⁰ with regard to Formula (VII) and (IX) is independently         selected from H, optionally substituted C₁₋₆ alkyl, halogen,         optionally substituted C₁₋₆alkoxy, amino, nitro, carboxyl,         phosphoryl, phosphonyl;     -   wherein at least one of R⁸ and R⁵ or R¹ and R⁴ of Formula (VII)         are hydroxy or oxo, or at least one of R⁹ and R⁶, R¹⁰ and R⁵, or         R¹ and R⁴ of Formula (VIII) are hydroxy or oxo, or at least one         of R¹⁰ and R⁷ or R¹ and R⁴ of Formula (IX) are hydroxy or oxo.

For example, sub-step (4.3(c)) may provide a compound characterized by the following structure:

Sub-Step (4.4): Purification

It is further preferred that the at least one lignin-derived precursor compound (preferably a quinone and/or hydroquinone compound), provided by sub-step (4.3)(a)-(c) may preferably be subjected to a purification sub-step (4.4) to separate said compound (or the composition comprising the same) from residual (for example non-(hydro-)quinone) compounds by a suitable method, preferably by preferably precipitation, recrystallization, distillation, sublimation, solid phase extraction or fluid-fluid phase extraction as generally known in the art.

Said at least one purified (hydro-)quinone is typically a redox active compound. The at least one purified (hydro-)quinone is subsequently subjected to sulfonation step (5) of the inventive method in order to obtain sulfonated (and optionally further derivatized) redox active compounds (or compositions comprising or (essentially) consisting of the same) that exhibit superior redox characteristics and are therefore particularly useful as redox flow battery electrolytes.

Sub-Step (4.5) Derivatization

Lignin-derived precursor compounds provided by step (4) may preferably be subjected to a further derivatization step. Therein, lignin-derived precursor compounds preferably according to any one of structural formulae (I) to (IX) are modified to introduce at least one or more groups selected from hydrogen, hydroxy, carboxy, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkyl (e.g. —CH₃), linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkenyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alcohol, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ aminoalkyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ carboxyalkyl, alkoxy, in particular linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ aldehyde, ester, halogen, amine (e.g. —NH₂), amino, amide, nitro, oxo, carbonyl, phosphoryl, phosphonyl or cyanide groups, into the precursor compounds at a position of the aryl structure other than those characterized by an oxo or hydroxyl group, wherein said group(s) is/are directly bound to the aryl structure or bound via an alkyl linker to the aryl structure, preferably via a methyl linker. Any other suitable organic group may also be introduced. Advantageously, said groups may confer beneficial properties in terms of redox behaviour or solubility of the resulting compound. Nitro groups (NO₂ ⁻) may be introduced but may be less preferred for stability reasons of the resulting compound.

The derivatization reactions can be performed with benzoquinones, benzohydroquinones and their derivatives, naphthoquinones, naphthohydroquinones and their derivatives and anthraquinones, anthrahydroquinones and their derivatives as starting materials as well as mixtures of the starting materials. Each starting material, intermediate or product can be transferred to its corresponding quinone or hydroquinone form via oxidation or reduction. Suitable oxidization agents may be selected from be air, oxygen or hydrogen peroxide, in combination with or without catalysts. The catalysts may be selected from metal based-catalysts (preferably comprising copper and aluminium), iodine, non-organic and organic acids or other quinones. Suitable reduction agents may be hydrogen, sodium dithionate, sodium borohydride, iron, tin(II)-chloride or zinc, in combination with or without catalysts, with hydrogen and sodium dithionate being preferred. The catalysts may be metal based, preferably palladium or nickel.

Quinones and hydroquinones can be modified or derivatized by substitution and addition reactions or rearrangements, preferably substitution reactions on hydroquinones and addition reactions on quinones (cf. reaction schemes 1 and 2). Substitution reactions include any reaction wherein a proton on the aromatic ring is exchanged by a different group, e.g. via an electrophile substitution. Suitable electrophiles may be selected from sulfur trioxide, aldehydes, ketones, esters, lactone, carboxylic acids, anhydrides, imine, carbon dioxide, chlorosulfonic acid, acyl halides, halogens, NO₂ and epoxides, preferably carbon dioxide, anhydrides, imines and acyl halides.

Addition reactions include any reaction that introduces a new group in the aromatic ring except for protons, preferably via a nucleophile addition on the aromatic ring with subsequent tautomeric rearrangement. Suitable nucleophiles include ammonia, amines, nitrogen containing heterocycles, thiols, alcohols, cyanides and azides, preferably amines, alcohols and nitrogen containing heterocycles.

Reactions can be performed step wise or in several steps in a one pot reaction. The modified target compounds may exhibit favorable redox properties rendering them useful in a variety of applications.

Further substituents can be introduced into napthoquinones and napthohydroquinones after the modification reaction on R²-R⁵ (Scheme 2). Typical (further) substituents R²-R⁵ are hydrogen, methoxy, ethoxy, primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary amines, carboxyalkyl, aminoalkyl, carboxylic acids, esters, amides, cyanides and alkyl-groups.

Anthaquinones and anthrahydroquinones can be modified by oxidation and reduction as described in the context of other (hydro-)quinones above. Subsequently, substituents can be introduced on R²-R¹° in suitable substitution reactions, which typically do not involve electrophilic substitution.

Sulfonation of (hydro-)quinones (in particular benzo-, naphtho- and anthraquinones) is a modification reaction of particular interest in the context of the present invention.

Step (5): Sulfonation

Subsequently, the lignin-derived (optionally derivatized) precursor compounds (or the composition comprising or (essentially) consisting of said precursor compounds) obtained from any one of the sub-steps (4.1)-(4.5) of previous step (4), are further subjected to a sulfonation step (5) to yield the target compounds (or the composition comprising the same) according to the present invention. Sulfonation is envisaged to improve solubility and/or electrochemical properties and/or stability of the resulting target compounds.

By applying the sulfonation step (5), at least one sulfonyl (SO₃H) group(s) is/are introduced into the lignin-derived precursor compounds, preferably according to any one of structural formulae (I) to (IX) at a position of the aryl structure other than those characterized by an oxo or hydroxyl group, wherein said group(s) is/are directly bound to the aryl structure. The resulting target compounds—i.e. sulfonated lignin-derived lmw aromatic target compounds as defined herein—are useful as redox active species in redox flow batteries. Notably, the target compounds may optionally be subjected to a further derivatization step subsequent to sulfonation.

In order to obtain the lignin-derived composition according to the present invention (and/or the sulfonated lignin-derived target compounds comprised by the same), lignin-derived precursor compounds (or compositions comprising or (essentially consisting of the same) are subjected to a sulfonation reaction. In general, sulfonation may be carried out in the presence of concentrated aqueous sulfuric acid. Alternatively, sulfur trioxide may be mixed with inert gas, such as air, N₂ and/or CO₂, or complexed with a complexing agent such as pyridine, dioxane, (CH₃)₃N or DMF. Typically, sulfonation is preferably performed at higher temperatures due to increased resulting yields. Therein, an increased temperature is understood to be at least 50° C., preferably 100° C. However, the temperature shall preferably not decompose the modified compound by pyrolysis. Accordingly, the temperature should preferably be lower than 200° C. Separation of the resulting sulfonated compound(s) may subsequently be carried out, for example, by filtration or salting out as described herein.

Sulfonation of (hydro-)quinones, e.g. benzo- and naphtha(hydro)quinones, may be accomplished as shown in Scheme 1 and 2 for the derivatization sub-step (4.5) above. The terms “sulfonation” and “sulfonation reaction” are used herein to refer to a derivatization reaction whereby at least one sulfonyl group is introduced into a compound.

The sulfonation step according to the inventive method typically includes as sub-step (i) the treatment of the lignin-derived precursor compounds (or composition comprising the same), preferably a (hydro-)quinone compound (including benzo-, naphtha- and anthraquinones) with SO₃, either from oleum or SO₃ gas, as depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The reaction is preferably performed under atmospheric pressure or elevated pressure in concentrated sulfuric acid at a temperature of 40-300° C., preferably 60-120° C. for benzohydroquinones and 160-180° C. for anthraquinones. The reaction is undergone within 1-6 hours, preferably 3 hours for benzoquinones and 4 hours for anthraquinones.

After the reaction, the concentrated sulfuric acid may preferably be poured into water and partial neutralized (sub-step (ii)). The preferred neutralizing agent is calcium hydroxide, the terminative sulfuric acid concentration is 5-30%, preferably 10-20%. After partially neutralizing the sulfuric acid, the precipitated sulfate may be filtered off (sub-step (iiia)). Subsequently, the resulting mixture may be directly concentrated (sub-step (iva)), preferably under reduced pressure to yield a solution of 0.4-1.5 mol/L active material and 10-40% sulfuric acid (FIG. 1). Alternatively, the solution is completely neutralized (sub-step (iiib)) either with the same or another neutralizing agent and the water is then evaporated under reduced pressure (sub-step (ivb) (FIG. 2). Additional sulfates that eventually precipitate are filtered off (sub-step (vb)) such that the product precipitates. The remaining water is then evaporated (sub-step (vib) and the solid is dried to yield a mixture of 30-90% sulfonated product mixed with sulfates. Either process typically yields a crude mixture of differently sulfonated lignin-derived lmw aromatic target compounds (such as sulfonated hydroquinones, naphthaquinones or anthraquinones).

Notably, the present inventors discovered that this solution may be applied for instant use or upon concentration for the application as an electrolyte in redox flow batteries. Thus, step (5) (and optionally step (6)) yields a lignin-derived composition comprising at least one sulfonated lignin-derived lmw (aromatic) target compound that is useful as an electrolyte in a redox flow battery.

Preferred sulfonated (optionally lignin-derived) lmw (aromatic) target compound are specified in the section “Redox active compounds and compositions” and in Tables 1-3 above. Preferred compositions may comprise or (essentially) consist of 1,4-benzoquinone-2,5-disulfonic acid, 1,4-benzoquinone-2,6-disulfonic acid, 1,4-benzoquinone-2-sulfonic acid, 1,4-naphthoquinone-2,6-disulfonic acid, 1,4-naphthoquinone-2,7-disulfonic acid, 1,4-naphthoquinone-5,7-disulfonic acid, 1,4-naphthoquinone-5-sulfonic acid, 1,4-naphthoquinone-2-sulfonic acid, 9,10-anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonic acid, 9,10-anthraquinone-2,7-disulfonic acid, 9,10-anthraquinone-1,5-disulfonic acid, 9,10-anthraquinone-1-sulfonic acid, 9,10-anthraquinone-2-sulfonic acid, or derivatives or a mixture thereof.

Step (6): Further Derivatization

Sulfonated lignin-derived target compounds provided by step (5) may be subjected to a further derivatization step. Therein, sulfonated lignin-derived target compounds preferably according to any one of structural formulae (X) to (XV) are modified to introduce at least one or more groups selected from hydrogen, hydroxy, carboxy, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkenyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alcohol, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ aminoalkyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ carboxyalkyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ aldehyde, ester, halogen, amine, amino, amide, nitro, oxo, carbonyl, phosphoryl, phosphonyl, cyanide and sulfonyl groups, into the sulfonated target compounds at a position of the aryl structure other than those characterized by an oxo or hydroxyl or sulfonyl group. Said group(s) is/are directly bound to the aryl structure or bound via an alkyl linker to the aryl structure, preferably via a methyl linker. (Optional) derivatization according to step (6) of the inventive method may preferably accomplished as described in the context of (optional) sub-step (4.5) above. Either one of sub-steps (4.5) and step (6), or both, may be applied.

Sulfonated (and optionally further derivatized) redox active target compounds provided by step (5) (and as discussed above) of the inventive method may be used as electrolytes. Sulfonated oxidized annulated compounds preferably are superb redox active compounds for versatile use. It is especially preferred that they may be produced from renewable sources. The inventive method allows to valorize otherwise waste by-products from the pulping industry.

Step (7): Purification

The inventive method may optionally comprise a further purification step (7). Thereby, the sulfonated (and optionally further derivatized) lignin-derived target compound obtained from step (5) or step (6) of the inventive method (or the composition comprising the same) is separated from residual for example non-(hydro-)quinone and/or non-sulfonated and decomposed material. Purification may preferably be accomplished by employing an extraction method, preferably precipitation, recrystallization, distillation, sublimation, solid phase extraction or fluid-fluid phase extraction as generally known in the art.

Step (8) Providing Redox Flow Battery Electrolytes

Preferably, the inventive method may comprise, optionally after step (5), (6) or (7) described herein, a step (8) of providing the obtained redox active compounds or compositions comprising the same as redox flow battery electrolytes. Step (8) is described herein as part of the inventive method of valorizing lignin by producing sulfonated target compounds therefrom, but is equally applicable to methods that employ crude oil, coal or pure organic substances as a starting material.

Specific structural characteristics of the compounds used (optionally in the form of compositions) as redox flow battery electrolytes according to the invention are described in the section “Redox active compounds and compositions” above. The term “(redox flow battery) electrolyte” as used herein refers to a substance that is capable of conducting electrical currents via electron transfer in a redox flow battery. Electrolytes that are dissolved in a suitable medium for use in redox flow batteries (e.g. water) are referred to as “electrolyte solutions” herein.

Sulfonated (optionally lignin-derived) target compounds (i.e. preferably sulfonated (hydro-)quinones as described below) and compositions comprising or (essentially) consisting thereof are preferred redox flow battery electrolytes according to the present invention.

When employed as redox flow battery electrolytes, sulfonated (optionally lignin-derived) target compounds (i.e., preferably sulfonated (hydro-)quinones as described herein) are typically comprised by an electrolyte solution. Said “electrolyte solution” thus comprises at least one electrolyte and a solvent. The electrolyte is preferably at least one sulfonated (optionally lignin-derived) target compound (preferably a sulfonated (hydro-)quinone as described herein) or composition , which is dissolved or suspended in a suitable solvent. The solvent is typically selected from water, methanol, ethanol, dimethylsulfoxide, acetonitrile, acetone and glycol. The electrolyte solution may comprise further additives, including acids, bases, buffers, ionic liquids, stabilizers, and the like.

Sulfonated (optionally lignin-derived) target compounds or compositions as disclosed herein may be used as catholytes and/or anolytes. The term “catholytes” refers to the part or portion of an electrolyte, which is on the cathode side of a redox-flow battery half-cell, whereas the term “anolyte” refers to the part or portion of an electrolyte, which is on the anode side of a redox-flow battery half-cell. It is conceivable to employ the inventive (optionally lignin-derived) target compounds both as catholytes and anolytes in each half-cell (i.e. anode side and cathode side) of the same redox flow battery, thereby providing an “all-organic” redox flow battery. It is however also conceivable to provide the sulfonated (optionally lignin-derived) target compounds or compositions according to the invention as either catholytes or anolytes in a “half-organic” redox flow battery. Therein, sulfonated (optionally lignin-derived) target compounds or compositions are utilized either as anolytes (catholytes), whereas the catholyte (anolyte) comprises an inorganic redox active species. Examples for such inorganic redox active species include transition metal ions and halogen ions, such as VCl₃/VCl₂, Br⁻/ClBr₂, Cl₂/Cl⁻, Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺, Cr³⁺/Cr²⁺, Ti³⁺/Ti²⁺, V³⁺/V²⁺, Zn/Zn²⁺, Br₂/Br⁻, I³⁻/I⁻, VBr₃/VBr₂, Ce³⁺/Ce⁴⁺, Mn²⁺/Mn³⁺, Ti³⁺/Ti⁴⁺, Cu/Cu⁺, Cu⁺/Cu²⁺, and others.

Generally, a catholyte is charged when a redox couple is oxidized to a higher one of two oxidation states, and is discharged when reduced to a lower one of the two oxidation state:

Cathode (Positive Electrode):

(C: Catholyte)

${C^{n\overset{yields}{\rightarrow}}C^{n - z}} + {{ze}^{-}({Charge})}$ ${C^{n - z} + {ze}^{-}}\overset{yields}{\rightarrow}{C^{n}({Discharge})}$

In contrast, an anolyte is charged when a redox couple is reduced to a lower one of two oxidation states, and is discharged when oxidized to a higher one of the two oxidation states:

Anode (Negative Electrode):

${A^{n - x} + {xe}^{-}}\overset{yields}{\rightarrow}{A^{n}({Charge})}$ ${A^{n\overset{yields}{\rightarrow}}A^{n - x}} + {{xe}^{-}({Discharge})}$

(A: Anolyte)

The standard (redox flow battery) cell potential (E^(o) _(cell)) is the difference in the standard electrode potentials (against the standard hydrogen electrode (SHE)) of the two half-cell reactions of the catholyte and anolyte.

E _(cell) ⁰ =E _(cat) ⁰ −E _(an) ⁰   eq.1

(E^(o) _(cell)=(redox flow battery) cell potential under standard conditions, E^(o) _(cat): standard reduction potential for the reduction half reaction occurring at the cathode, E^(o) _(an): standard reduction potential for the oxidation half reaction occurring at the anode).

The Nernst Equation (eq. 2) enables the determination of cell potential under non-standard conditions. It relates the measured cell potential to the reaction quotient and allows the accurate determination of equilibrium constants (including solubility constants).

$\begin{matrix} {E_{cell} = {E_{cell}^{0} - {\frac{RT}{nF}\ln\; Q}}} & {{eq}.\mspace{14mu} 2} \end{matrix}$

(E_(cell)=(redox flow battery) cell potential under non-standard conditions, n=number of electrons transferred in the reaction, F=Faraday constant (96,500 C/mol), T=Temperature and Q=reaction quotient of the redox reaction).

The redox flow battery cell potential thus depends on the concentration and types of reactants (which determines the number of transferred electrons and the reaction quotient). It will be understood that a redox flow battery employing the sulfonated (optionally lignin-derived) target compounds or compositions according to the invention as a catholyte and/or anolyte preferably exhibit high (standard) cell potentials. Preferably, the redox flow battery employing (a) sulfonated lignin-derived target compound(s) as catholyte and/or anolyte exhibits a cell potential of at least +0.5 V, preferably at least +0.8 V, more preferably at least +1.0 V, or more, typically between +0.5 and +1.5 V, preferably between +0.8 and +1.2 V for the open circuit voltage (OCV) in the fully charged state. Suitable stabilizers can enhance the cell potential to a range typically between +0.5 V and +2.5 V against SHE.

Sulfonated (optionally lignin-derived) target compounds intended for use as catholytes (accepting electrons in a reduction reaction) thus preferably exhibit standard reduction potentials (against SHE) E⁰ _(cat) that are more positive (less negative) than the standard reduction potential for the employed anolyte (E⁰ _(an)). Preferably, sulfonated (optionally lignin-derived) target compounds intended for use as catholytes exhibit positive standard reduction potentials E⁰ _(cat) of more than 0 V, more preferably of at least +0.5 V, most preferably at least +0.7 V against SHE.

Sulfonated (optionally lignin-derived) target compounds intended for use as anolytes (donating electrons in an oxidation reaction) thus preferably exhibit standard reduction potentials (against SHE) E⁰ _(an) that are more negative (less positive) than the standard reduction potential for the employed catholyte (E⁰ _(cat)). Preferably, sulfonated lignin-derived target compounds intended for use as anolytes exhibit negative standard reduction potentials of less than +0.3 V, preferably +0.1 V or less against SHE.

The standard reduction potential of the redox couple is characteristic of the molecule and its specific substituent groups and is inter alia related to the electronic energy of the molecular orbitals. The addition of sulfonic acid groups preferably increases the standard reduction potential, which is consistent with the lowering of molecular orbital energies by electro-withdrawing groups.

While the equilibrium potentials of electrolytes in the cathodic and anodic half-cells determines the cell voltage, its capacity depends on the effective electrolyte concentration, which is the solubility multiplied by the number of electrons transferred in the redox reactions. Highly soluble electrolytes therefore preferably increase the energy capacity of the redox flow battery and are therefore preferred.

Advantageously, (additional) sulfonyl groups are capable of increasing the solubility of the sulfonated compound(s) in water, which preferably provides for an electrolyte solution usable in redox flow batteries exhibiting a high capacity. The sulfonated (optionally lignin-derived) target compounds according to the invention are preferably soluble in concentrations of at least 0.3 M, preferably at least 0.6 M, more preferably at least 1.0 M at 25° C. .

The inventive methods (in particular the method used for preparing the lignin-derived target compounds according to the invention) thus involve a sulfonation step (e.g. step (5)) wherein at least one sulfonyl group is introduced into the precursor compounds (preferably (hydro-)quinones) obtained from the previous step (e.g. step (4)).

Thereby, the inventive method may preferably yield sulfonated (optionally lignin-derived) quinones (including benzo, anthra- and naphthoquinones as described in greater detail below), which are especially attractive target compounds in accordance with the present invention due to their reversible and fast (optionally proton-coupled) electron transfer processes. In aqueous solution, quinones typically undergo fast two-electron reduction with or without proton transfer depending on pH. Under acidic conditions, quinones are thus typically reduced to hydroquinones, whereby at least one oxo-group bound to the aromatic ring of the quinone is converted into a hydroxyl-group.

The sulfonated (optionally lignin-derived) redox active target compounds described herein as well as the compositions comprising the same are envisaged as electrolytes. Preferably, such compounds or compositions are thus provided in the form of an electrolyte solution for redox flow battery applications. Therefore, (optionally lignin-derived) target compounds or compositions comprising the same are preferably dissolved (or suspended) in a suitable solvent (e.g. water) to yield an electrolyte solution for use in redox flow batteries. Accordingly, compositions may be provided in solid or liquid form. It is generally conceivable to employ liquid compositions without prior dissolution in redox flow batteries , however, generally the liquid composition will be dissolved in a suitable solvent to yield an electrolyte solution that for use in redox flow batteries.

Process

In accordance with the above, an exemplary method for providing the inventive sulfonated target compounds may include the steps as described in the following, using lignocellulosic material as a starting material. The method can be performed using any suitable starting material as described herein. However, the use of lignocellulosic material may have the advantage that the precursor compounds obtainable from step (4) (any one of sub-steps (4.1)-(4.5)) preferably already comprise C₁₋₆ alkoxy substituents (in particular methoxy or ethoxy groups), which may confer further desired properties in particular when the target compounds are intended for use as redox flow battery electrolytes. The compounds obtained from step (4) that are further sulfonated in step (5) of the inventive method may thus advantageously carry C₁₋₆ alkoxy groups as substituents. The derivatization step (6) may be employed to introduce further substituents of interest. It is however also possible to introduce C₁₋₆ alkoxy groups afterwards into precursor compounds obtained from starting materials other than lignocellulosic material (e.g. using a derivatization reaction as described herein).

Accordingly, in a first step (1), a lignocellulosic material may be provided (sub-step (1.1)) and subjected to pulping (sub-step (1.2)). The lignocellulosic material may be provided in chopped form (e.g. as woodchips) and may for instance derived from wood of low silica and resin content, such as beech (or any other wood described above).

In sub-step (1.2), the lignocellulosic material may be subjected to a pulping process as described herein. Typically, said pulping process may be a Kraft process or a sulfite process as described above. In the Kraft process, the lignocellulosic material is typically wetted and pre-heated with steam, and cooked (e.g. under at least 4 bar for 3-5 hours at 150° C. or more, e.g. 170 to 180° C.) in an aqueous alkaline solution (e.g. sodium hydroxide) comprising a suitable Kraft pulping reactive agent (such as a sulfide salt, a sulfhydryl compound or salt, and a polysulfide salt, additionally, a sulfate salt may be added). Such a solution may be “white liquor” containing sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide. The Kraft process typically yields “Kraft lignin” which may be further sulfonated to obtain “sulfonated Kraft lignin”. However, other pulping processes as described herein may be applied as well. In particular, the sulfite process may be employed. In the sulfite process, lignocellulosic material is typically wetted and preheated with steam, and cooked (e.g. under at least 4 bar for 4-6 hours at 120° C. to 170° C., e.g. 130° C.-160° C.) in an aqueous, typically acidic solution of low pH (e.g. pH 1-5) comprising a sulfite or bisulfite agent.

The pulping process preferably disintegrates wood into its components lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose, which may be separated in a subsequent step.

In sub-step (1.3), the pulp is separated from the process stream, to provide at least one process stream that is substantially free from cellulose and comprises modified lignin-derived components, hemicellulose, and the like. Separation may typically be accomplished by blowing, sieving, filtration and one or more washing steps.

Subsequently, in step (2), modified lignin-derived components may be isolated from other components of the process stream(s), e.g. by ultra- and/or nanofiltration with suitable molecular weight cut-off values (such as about 5 kDa for ultrafiltration and 0.1-5 kDa for nanofiltration).

The isolated modified lignin-derived components are then subjected to chemical decomposition in step (3), e.g. by oxidative cracking (although other chemical decomposition methods described herein are also applicable), to break or dissociate larger molecules into their smaller fragments by dissociation of their covalent bonds. Oxidative cracking may be effected in the presence of a suitable oxidizing agent, such as air, and a suitable catalyst. The catalyst may be a homogenous catalyst, e.g. a metal salt comprising a metal ion such as Cu(II) or Fe(III), or comprising a metalloid component such as B(III), Si(IV) and Al(III). Chemical decomposition may be conducted at elevated temperatures (i.e. >30° C., e.g. 150° C.) but is typically performed at temperatures that do not induce pyrolysis of the treated materials (i.e. <350° C.). Other chemical decomposition steps as described herein may also be applied.

In subsequent step (4), low molecular weight aromatic lignin-derived components are isolated from higher molecular weight aromatic lignin-derived components and/or other non-lignin-derived residual components, e.g. by ultra- or nanofiltration (sub-step (4.1)). The employed ultra- or nanofilters may have a molecular weight cut-off of 0.15 kDa to 1 kDa or less, eg. 0.5 kDa.

Low molecular weight aromatic lignin-derived compounds may preferably be aromatic and include one or two (non-annulated) aromatic rings, optionally joined by an aliphatic linker. Exemplary low molecular weight aromatic lignin-derived compounds obtainable by the inventive method include phenolic derivatives of biphenyl, benzylalcohol, benzaldehydes and benzoic acid, preferably derivatives of p-hydroxy benzylalcohol, p-hydroxy benzaldehydes and p-hydroxy benzoic acid, or more preferably vanillin, guaiacol, eugenol, syringol, phenol, syringaldehyde, or derivatives thereof.

In sub-step (4.2), monocyclic compounds may be subjected to a Friedel Crafts acylation (or another suitable annulation reaction) to produce annulated bi- or tricyclic compounds (or tetra- or pentacyclic, or even higher n-cyclic compounds).

In sub-step (4.3), the (optionally annulated) low molecular weight lignin-derived compounds may be oxidized in the presence of an oxidizing agent, such as H₂O₂ or O₂, and a suitable catalyst. Useful catalysts in this context include, for instance, Co(II) complexes such as (pyr)Co(II)salen, Co(3-methoxysalen) and Co(N-N-Me salpr). Thereby, preferably hydroquinone compounds (such as benzohydroquinones, napthohydroquinones or anthrahydroquinones) are obtained.

Step (4) may further involve purification of said low molecular weight aromatic lignin-derived compounds (sub-step (4.4)) , e.g. by diafiltration or extraction, optionally followed by fractionated distillation. The low-molecular weight aromatic lignin-derived compounds may further be derivatized (sub-step (4.5) in order to introduce chemical groups of interest. Notably, the order of sub-steps (4.1)-(4.5) may be altered in any suitable manner.

Step (4) of the inventive method preferably yields (optionally derivatized) (hydro-)quinones that are subsequently subjected to a sulfonation step (5) to introduce at least one sulfonyl (SO₃H—) group, yielding the sulfonated target compounds of the present invention. Said sulfonated target compounds may optionally be subjected to further derivatization steps (step (6)) and/or purification steps (step (7)). Finally, a redox flow battery electrolyte comprising or consisting of the sulfonated target compounds may be provided (step (8)).

Sulfonated Lignin-Derived Target Compounds

In a further aspect, the present invention provides sulfonated (optionally lignin-derived) low molecular weight aromatic compounds and a composition comprising or (essentially) consisting of the same, optionally obtained or obtainable by the method according to the invention.

Such target compounds (which may optionally be obtained or obtainable by step (5) (or optionally step (6), (7) or (8)) of the inventive method) preferably comprises one, two or three aromatic (carbocyclic) ring(s). The aromatic ring(s) of the lignin-derived low molecular weight aromatic compound is/are substituted in at least one, preferably in at least two or more positions by a functional group, wherein two functional groups are preferably hydroxyl or oxo, wherein at least one functional group is sulfonyl. Preferred lignin-derived target compounds are described in the section headed “Redox active compounds and compositions” above.

Particularly preferred (optionally lignin-derived) target compounds in accordance with the present invention include quinones or hydroquinones. Specific quinones or hydroquinones in oxidized form for use with any aspect of the invention include 1,4-benzoquinone-2,5-disulfonic acid, 1,4-benzoquinone-2,6-disulfonic acid, 1,4-benzoquinone-2-sulfonic acid, 1,4-naphthoquinone-2,6-disulfonic acid, 1,4-naphthoquinone-2,7-disulfonic acid, 1,4-naphthoquinone-5,7-disulfonic acid, 1,4-naphthoquinone-5-sulfonic acid, 1,4-naphthoquinone-2-sulfonic acid, 9,10-anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonic acid, 9,10-anthraquinone-2,7-disulfonic acid, 9,10-anthraquinone-1,5-disulfonic acid, 9,10-anthraquinone-1-sulfonic acid, 9,10-anthraquinone-2-sulfonic acid, or derivatives or a mixture thereof.

The (optionally lignin-derived) target compounds and compositions comprising the same are preferably redox active (as defined above), and thus particularly useful as redox flow battery electrolytes.

Redox Flow Battery

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a redox flow battery comprising at least one sulfonated (optionally lignin-derived) target compound (or a composition comprising or (essentially) consisting the same) as defined herein as a redox flow battery electrolyte.

Redox flow batteries typically comprise two parallel electrodes separated by an ion exchange membrane, forming two half-cells. Preferably, redox flow batteries according to the invention thus comprise (1) a first half-cell comprising a first or negative electrode contacting a first (optionally aqueous) electrolyte solution comprising the first electrolyte; (2) a second half-cell comprising a second or positive electrode contacting a second (optionally aqueous) electrolyte solution comprising the second electrolyte; and (3) a separator (or “barrier”) disposed between the first and second electrolytes.

Redox Flow Battery (Half-)Cells

The redox flow battery cell typically comprises of a first half-cell harbouring the positive electrode in contact with the first electrolyte solution (“catholyte solution”) and—separated therefrom by a suitable barrier—a second half-cell harbouring a negative electrode in contact with the second electrolyte solution (“anolyte solution”). Preferably, the half-cells are configured as separate reservoirs (or chambers) within the redox flow battery cell, through which the first and/or second electrolyte solutions flow so as to contact the respective electrodes disposed in the electrolyte solution, and the separator. Each container and its associated electrode and electrolyte solution thus defines its corresponding redox flow half-cell. The electrochemical redox reactions of the employed electrolytes occur within the half-cells.

Specifically, the current invention in particular provides a redox flow battery comprising: a first (optionally aqueous) electrolyte solution comprising a first (redox active) electrolyte; a first electrode in contact with said first (optionally aqueous) electrolyte solution; a second (optionally aqueous) electrolyte solution comprising a second (redox active) electrolyte; a second electrode in contact with said second (optionally aqueous) electrolyte solution; wherein one or both of the first and second (redox active) electrolytes comprise at least one sulfonated (optionally lignin-derived) target compound as defined herein (preferably at least one sulfonated (optionally lignin-derived) (hydro-)quinone) or a composition comprising or (essentially) consisting of the same as defined herein.

These redox flow half-cells may be composed of any preferably chemically inert material suitable to retain the respective electrolyte solutions. Said half-cells are connected to a power source. Further, each redox flow half-cell chamber may be connected, preferably via suitable ducts, to at least one separate storage tank comprising the respective electrolyte solution flowing through said half-cell chamber. The storage tanks contain the positive and negative active materials; the tank volume determines the quantity of energy stored in the system, which may be measured in kWh. The ducts may comprise transportation means (e.g. pumps) for transporting the electrolyte solutions from the storage tanks through the corresponding half-cell chamber.

The redox flow battery cell may further comprise control software, hardware, and optional safety systems suitably include sensors, mitigation equipment and other electronic/hardware controls and safeguards to ensure safe, autonomous, and efficient operation of the redox flow battery. Such systems are known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

Typically, the first redox flow battery half-cell is separated from the second redox flow battery half-cell by a separator (also referred to as a “membrane” herein). Said separator preferably functions to (1) (substantially) prevent mixing of first and second electrolyte; (2) reduces or prevents short circuits between the positive and negative electrodes; and (3) enables ion transport between the positive and negative electrolyte chambers, thereby balancing electron transport during charge and discharge cycles.

The separator may for instance be selected from an ion conducting membrane or a size exclusion membrane.

Separators are generally categorized as either solid or porous. Solid separators may comprise an ion-exchange membrane, wherein a ionomer facilitates mobile ion transport through the body of the polymer which constitutes the membrane. The facility with which ions conduct through the membrane can be characterized by a resistance, typically an area resistance in units of ohm-cm2. The area resistance is a function of inherent membrane conductivity and the membrane thickness. Thin membranes are desirable to reduce inefficiencies incurred by ion conduction and therefore can serve to increase voltage efficiency of the redox flow battery cell. Active material crossover rates are also a function of membrane thickness, and typically decrease with increasing membrane thickness. Crossover represents a current efficiency loss that must be balanced with the voltage efficiency gains by utilizing a thin membrane.

Such ion-exchange membranes may also comprise or consist of membranes, which are sometimes referred to as polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) or ion conductive membranes (ICMs). The membranes according to the present disclosure may comprise any suitable polymer, typically an ion exchange resin, for example comprising a polymeric anion or cation exchange membrane, or combination thereof. The mobile phase of such a membrane may comprise, and/or is responsible for the primary or preferential transport (during operation of the battery) of at least one mono-, di-, tri-, or higher valent cation and/or mono-, di-, tri-, or higher valent anion, other than protons or hydroxide ions.

Additionally, substantially non-fluorinated membranes that are modified with sulfonic acid groups (or cation exchanged sulfonate groups) may also be used. Such membranes include those with substantially aromatic backbones, e.g., poly-styrene, polyphenylene, bi-phenyl sulfone (BPSH), or thermoplastics such as polyetherketones or polyethersulfones. Examples of ion-exchange membranes comprise Nafion.

Porous separators may be non-conductive membranes that allow charge transfer between two electrodes via open channels filled with conductive electrolyte solution. Porous membranes are typically permeable to liquid or gaseous chemicals. This permeability increases the probability of chemicals (e.g. electrolytes) passing through porous membrane from one electrode to another causing cross-contamination and/or reduction in cell energy efficiency. The degree of this cross-contamination depends on, among other features, the size (the effective diameter and channel length), and character (hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity) of the pores, the nature of the electrolyte, and the degree of wetting between the pores and the electrolyte solution. Because they contain no inherent ionic conduction capability, such membranes are typically impregnated with additives in order to function. These membranes are typically comprised of a mixture of a polymer, and inorganic filler, and open porosity. Suitable polymers include those chemically compatible with the electrolytes and electrolyte solutions described herein, including high density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF), or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Suitable inorganic fillers include silicon carbide matrix material, titanium dioxide, silicon dioxide, zinc phosphide, and ceria and the structures may be supported internally with a substantially non-ionomeric structure, including mesh structures such as are known for this purpose in the art.

Separators of the present disclosure may feature a thickness of about 500 microns or less, about 300 microns or less, about 250 microns or less, about 200 microns or less, about 100 microns or less, about 75 microns or less, about 50 microns or less, about 30 microns or less, about 25 microns or less, about 20 microns or less, about 15 microns or less, or about 10 microns or less, for example to about 5 microns.

The negative and positive electrodes of the inventive redox flow battery provide a surface for electrochemical reactions during charge and discharge. As used herein, the terms “negative electrode” and “positive electrode” are electrodes defined with respect to one another, such that the negative electrode operates or is designed or intended to operate at a potential more negative than the positive electrode (and vice versa), independent of the actual potentials at which they operate, in both charging and discharging cycles. The negative electrode may or may not actually operate or be designed or intended to operate at a negative potential relative to the reversible hydrogen electrode. The negative electrode is associated with the first aqueous electrolyte and the positive electrode is associated with the second electrolyte, as described herein.

Either or both of the electrodes that carry out the electrochemical reactions may comprise carbon or any other suitable material, e.g. carbon black, carbon nanotubes, graphene, graphite.

Electrolyte Solutions

The redox flow battery according to the invention may thus comprise (1) a first half-cell comprising a first (redox active) electrolyte, optionally dissolved or suspended in suitable solution, in contact with the first electrode and (2) a second half-cell comprising a sulfonated (optionally lignin-derived) target compound (preferably a sulfonated (hydro-)quinone) as a second (redox active) electrolyte, preferably dissolved or suspended in aqueous solution, in contact with the second electrode. The first redox active electrolyte may alternatively include chlorine, bromine, iodine, oxygen, vanadium, chromium, cobalt, iron, manganese, cobalt, nickel, copper, or lead, in particular, bromine or a manganese oxide, a cobalt oxide or a lead oxide, while the second redox active electrolyte is selected from a sulfonated (optionally lignin-derived) target compound as described herein, preferably a sulfonated (hydro-)quinone as described herein. It is also conceivable that both the first and the second electrolyte is a sulfonated (optionally lignin-derived) target compound (preferably a sulfonated (hydro-)quinone as described herein). The first (redox active) electrolyte may function as the anolyte, and the second (redox active) electrolyte may function as the catholyte, or vice versa.

The first and/or second electrolyte is preferably provided in the form of an electrolyte solution. Thus, the first and/or second electrolyte (at least one being selected from a sulfonated (optionally lignin-derived) target compound or composition comprising the same as described herein) are preferably dissolved (or suspended) in a suitable solvent, e.g. water, methanol, ethanol, dimethylsulfoxide, acetonitrile, acetone and glycol.

Thus the redox flow battery according to the invention preferably comprises in at least one of its half-cells an electrolyte solution (preferably comprising at least one target compound or composition described herein) which comprises an aqueous solvent system. The term “aqueous solvent system” refers to a solvent system comprising preferably at least about 20% by weight of water, relative to total weight of the solvent. In some applications, soluble, miscible, or partially miscible (emulsified with surfactants or otherwise) co-solvents may also be usefully present which, for example, extend the range of water's liquidity (e.g., alcohols/glycols). In addition to the redox active electrolytes described herein, the electrolyte solutions may contain additional buffering agents, supporting electrolytes, viscosity modifiers, wetting agents, and the like, which may be part of the solvent system.

Thus, the term “aqueous solvent system” may generally include those comprises at least about 55%, at least about 60 wt %, at least about 70 wt %, at least about 75 wt %, at least about 80%, at least about 85 wt %, at least about 90 wt %, at least about 95 wt %, or at least about 98 wt % water, relative to the total solvent. Sometimes, the aqueous solvent may consist essentially of water, and be substantially free or entirely free of co-solvents or other (non-target compound) species. The solvent system may be at least about 90 wt %, at least about 95 wt %, or at least about 98 wt % water, or may be free of co-solvents or other (non-target compound) species.

One or both electrolyte solutions may be characterized as having a pH of between about <0 and about >14. The pH of the electrolyte solution may be maintained by a buffer. Typical buffers include salts of phosphate, borate, carbonate, silicate, trisaminomethane (Tris), 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid (HEPES), piperazine-N,N′-bis(ethanesulfonic acid) (PIPES), and combinations thereof. A user may add an acid (e.g., HCl, HNO3, H2SO4 and the like), a base NaOH, KOH, and the like), or both to adjust the pH of a given electrolyte solution as desired.

The pH of the first and second electrolyte solutions may be equal or substantially similar; or the pH of the two electrolytes differ by a value in the range of about 0.1 to about 2 pH units, about 1 to about 10 pH units, about 5 to about 12 pH units, about 1 to about 5 pH units, about 0.1 to about 1.5 pH units, about 0.1 to about 1 pH units, or about 0.1 to about 0.5 pH units. In this context, the term “substantially similar,” without further qualification, is intended to connote that the difference in pH between the two electrolytes is about 1 pH unit or less, such as about 0.4 or less, about 0.3 or less, about 0.2 or less, or about 0.1 pH units or less.

The disclosed redox flow battery may also be characterized in terms of its half-cell reduction potentials. Both the negative and positive electrode preferably exhibit a half-cell standard reduction potential. A redox flow battery cell according to the present disclosure may exhibit a half-cell potential for the negative electrode less than about +0.3 V vs. SHE, preferably less than about +0.1 V vs. SHE. A redox flow battery cell according to the present disclosure, specifically when employing sulfonated (hydro-)quinones as described herein as redox flow battery electrolytes, may exhibit a half-cell potential for the positive electrode at least about +0 V vs. SHE, preferably at least +0.5 V vs. SHE, most preferably at least about 0.7 V vs. SHE.

The disclosed redox flow batteries may also be characterized in terms of their energy density. Flow batteries of the present disclosure may operate with an energy density of, at least between about 10 Wh/L per side and about 20 Wh/L per side, preferably between about 20 Wh/L per side and about 50 Wh/L per side, most preferably between about 50 Wh/L per side and about 100 Wh/L per side,

Operation

In a charging cycle, electrical power is applied to the system. Thereby, the redox active electrolyte contained in the one (for instance the second) electrolyte solution undergoes one-or-more electron oxidation and the redox active electrolyte in the other (for instance the first) electrolyte solution undergoes one-or-more electron reduction. Similarly, in a discharge cycle one (for instance the second) electrolyte is reduced and the other (for instance the first) electrolyte is oxidized producing electrical power.

As indicated above, it is conceivable to employ different sulfonated (optionally lignin-derived) compounds (preferably sulfonated (hydro-)quinones) as the first and the second electrolyte in the redox flow batteries according to the invention. Accordingly, the invention thus features a redox flow battery including first and second electrodes separated by a separator, wherein in its charged state, the redox flow battery includes a sulfonated quinone at the first electrode and a sulfonated hydroquinone at the second electrode, wherein during discharge, the sulfonated quinone is reduced, and the sulfonated hydroquinone is oxidized. Specifically, the sulfonated quinone and/or hydroquinone may be dissolved or suspended in aqueous solution.

Redox Flow Battery Stacks

In some cases, a user may desire to provide higher charge or discharge voltages than available from a single battery. In such cases, and in certain embodiments, then, several batteries are connected in series such that the voltage of each cell is additive. An electrically conductive, but non-porous material (e.g., a bipolar plate) may be employed to connect adjacent battery cells in a bipolar stack, which allows for electron transport but prevents fluid or gas transport between adjacent cells. The positive electrode compartments and negative electrode compartments of individual cells are suitably fluidically connected via common positive and negative fluid manifolds in the stack. In this way, individual electrochemical cells can be stacked in series to yield a desired operational voltage.

Several redox flow batteries may be connected in series via electrically conductive, preferably non-porous material which allows for electron transport but prevents fluid or gas transport between adjacent cells (e.g., a bipolar plate) in a bipolar redox flow battery stack. Positive and negative electrode compartments of each cell are preferably connected via common positive and negative fluid manifolds in the stack. Thereby, individual electrochemical cells can be stacked in series to yield a desired operational voltage.

The term “bipolar plate” refers to an electrically conductive, substantially nonporous material that may serve to separate electrochemical cells in a cell stack such that the cells are connected in series and the cell voltage is additive across the cell stack. The bipolar plate has two surfaces such that one surface of the bipolar plate serves as a substrate for the positive electrode in one cell and the negative electrode in an adjacent cell. The bipolar plate typically comprises carbon and carbon containing composite materials.

Energy Storage Systems

Redox flow battery cells, cell stacks, or redox flow batteries as described herein comprising the sulfonated (optionally lignin-derived) target compounds may be incorporated in larger energy storage systems, suitably including piping and controls useful for operation of these large units. Piping, control, and other equipment suitable for such systems are known in the art, and include, for example, piping and pumps in fluid communication with the respective electrochemical reaction chambers for moving electrolytes into and out of the respective chambers and storage tanks for holding charged and discharged electrolytes.

The storage tanks contain the redox active materials; the tank volume determines the quantity of energy stored in the system, which may be measured in kWh. The control software, hardware, and optional safety systems suitably include sensors, mitigation equipment and other electronic/hardware controls and safeguards to ensure safe, autonomous, and efficient operation of the flow battery energy storage system. Such systems are known to those of ordinary skill in the art. A power conditioning unit may be used at the front end of the energy storage system to convert incoming and outgoing power to a voltage and current that is optimal for the energy storage system or the application. For the example of an energy storage system connected to an electrical grid, in a charging cycle the power conditioning unit would convert incoming AC electricity into DC electricity at an appropriate voltage and current for the electrochemical stack. In a discharging cycle, the stack produces DC electrical power and the power conditioning unit converts to AC electrical power at the appropriate voltage and frequency for grid applications.

The energy storage and generation systems described herein may also include electrolyte circulation loops, which may comprise one or more valves, one or more pumps, and optionally a pressure equalizing line. Hence, the energy storage system according to the invention may comprise at least one redox flow battery, a first chamber containing the first (preferably aqueous) electrolyte and a second chamber containing the second (preferably aqueous) electrolyte; at least one electrolyte circulation loop in fluidic communication each electrolyte chamber, said at least one electrolyte circulation loop comprising storage tanks and piping for containing and transporting the electrolytes; control hardware and software (which may include safety systems); and an optional power conditioning unit.

The energy storage and generation systems of this disclosure can also include an operation management system. The operation management system may be any suitable controller device, such as a computer or microprocessor, and may contain logic circuitry that sets operation of any of the various valves, pumps, circulation loops, and the like.

The energy storage systems of the present disclosure are preferably suited to sustained charge or discharge cycles of several hour durations. For example, redox flow batteries comprising the sulfonated (optionally lignin-derived) compounds of the present invention may be capable of retaining at least about 70% efficiency when subjected to 10 charge/discharge cycles. As such, the systems of the present disclosure may be used to smooth energy supply/demand profiles and provide a mechanism for stabilizing intermittent power generation assets (e.g., from renewable energy sources). It should be appreciated, then, that various embodiments of the present disclosure include those electrical energy storage applications where such long charge or discharge durations are valuable. For example, non-limiting examples of such applications include those where systems of the present disclosure are connected to an electrical grid include, so as to allow renewables integration, peak load shifting, grid firming, baseload power generation consumption, energy arbitrage, transmission and distribution asset deferral, weak grid support, and/or frequency regulation. Cells, stacks, or systems according to the present disclosure may be used to provide stable power for applications that are not connected to a grid, or a micro-grid, for example as power sources for remote camps, forward operating bases, off-grid telecommunications, or remote sensors.

Assembly

Also disclosed herein is an assembly which is provided for conducting the inventive method and in particular steps (1.3) to (5), which are not part of a conventional pulp and/or paper manufacturing plant. With regard to step (1.3), pulp separation from the process stream originating from the pulping process (step (1.2)) is conducted as a core activity to obtain the target product of a conventional pulp and/or paper manufacturing plant. However, the separation of the process stream into at least two partial process streams as optionally devised in step (1.3) is not part of a known pulp and/or paper manufacturing plant. Hence, the assembly disclosed herein comprises (i) optionally a stream separator, (ii) an isolation unit, (iii) a decomposition unit, and (iv) a separation unit.

The provision of the process stream in step (1.3) to provide partial process streams in step (1.3(b)) is preferably conducted in a stream separation unit, comprising mechanical and/or pneumatic means known in the art. The isolation of the modified lignin may be conducted in an isolation unit, comprising, for example, means for conducting (ultra-)filtration, extraction and countercurrent flow.

Preferably, the stream separator of the assembly facilitates that the substantially pulp-free process stream of step (1.3) is divided into at least two partial process streams. By means of the stream separator, the ratio of the at least two partial process streams may be controlled, which streams may be supplied to different further processing. Typically, the fraction of modified lignin-derived components of one of the partial process streams is not isolated. Instead the stream comprising the original content of modified lignin is forwarded to a combustion and recovery unit. Using some of the fraction of modified lignin-derived components as an internal energy fuel for the energy supply for the pulp and/or paper manufacturing plant. Additionally, residual reactive agents are regained, e.g. from the black or brown liquor or from organic solvents. These reactive agents are typically salts, which withstand temperatures of, for example, at least 500° C., or even at least 750° C., or even at least 1000° C. During combustion, e.g. sodium sulfate may be reduced to sodium sulfide by the organic carbon in the mixture, which may be reused in the pulping process. In contrast, the organic material, which serves as internal fuel, such as the modified lignin, hemicellulose, residual cellulose and/or fragments thereof, are burned at temperatures of, for example, at least 500° C., or even at least 750° C., or even at least 1000° C.

The combustion and recovery process is more frequently employed in plants operating according to the Kraft process. Therein, excess black liquor typically contains about 15% (w/w) solids and may be concentrated in a multiple effect evaporator. After said concentration, the black liquor is typically enriched to about 20 - 30% (w/w) solids. At such a concentration of solids, a naturally comprised soap called rosin soap rises to the surface and is skimmed off. The collected soap is further processed to tall oil. Removal of the soap improves the combustion operation. Soap-depleted black liquor with about 20-30% (w/w) solids is be called weak black liquor. It may then be further evaporated to 65% or even 80% solids, which may be called “heavy black liquor”, and may be burnt in a recovery boiler to provide energy and to recover the inorganic chemicals for reuse in the pulping process. Concentrated black liquor is usually appreciated for its large heating value (about 12.000 to 13.000 Btu/dry lb). The heat released from the combustion is used to generate high pressure and power. Therefore, the high pressure steam may be fed to turbogenerators, reducing the steam pressure for the plant use and generating electricity. Some of the heat released and part of the reducing value in black liquor is used to drive the pulp and/or paper production plant's reactive agent recovery operation.

Thus, the fraction of modified lignin-derived components of the process stream coming from step (1) of the inventive method is typically an important fuel for paper and pulp manufacturing plant as it contributes heavily to a pulp and/or paper production plant's energy self-sufficiency. Moreover, the pulp and paper industry traditionally has a highly efficient infrastructure for growth, harvesting, transport, and processing of forest materials. For example, Kraft operations are highly integrated and depend on the (modified) lignin fraction from wood as a fuel to operate the incredibly expensive chemical recovery boilers that are the heart of their operation. In the past, diverting this fuel source to other uses would have required the pulping operation to supplement its energy needs by purchasing natural gas or coal, potentially upsetting the plant's economics. Therefore, the Kraft process in contrast to the sulfite process essentially did not provide a source of lignin-derived raw material.

However, modern pulp and/or paper production plants, including such running under the Kraft process, become more and more energy efficient. Additionally, bark and wood residues may be burned in a separate power boiler to generate steam. Said overflow in energy sources available to a modern pulp and/or paper manufacturing plant may provide a sufficient “safety margin” to divert lignin-derived combustible material while the plant remains self-sufficient in terms of energy supply.

The “safety margin” of overflow modified lignin available form modern pulp and/or paper production plants may be even larger considering the fact that high solid contents in the concentrated (black) liquor have the typical drawback of resulting in higher viscosity and precipitation of solids in the ducts and the combustion and recovery unit. This precipitation leads to adverse plugging and fouling of equipment, which has to be preferably avoided. Thus, controlling the isolation of the fraction of modified lignin-derived components, e.g. also by means of the stream divider of the inventive assembly, and thereby reducing the modified lignin load in the process stream supplied to the combustion and recovery unit, may advantageously contribute to avoid such adverse plugging and fouling of equipment.

In this regard, the inventive assembly provides means to balance the needs for energy supply to the Kraft process on the one hand and the diverting of lignin and derivatives thereof on the other hand. First, the flexible control of the diverting means allows to direct exactly the share of the process stream to the generation of electricity and/or steam, which is actually needed to run the pulp and/or paper manufacturing plant. Thereby, modified lignin-derived components not required in combustion may entirely be directed to other uses such as the further processing of modified lignin according to the present invention. Therefore, less or even no modified lignin is wasted anymore as fuel in excess generation of electricity and/or steam. Second, any modified lignin or lignin-derived compound or fragment thereof, which does not yield the target compound may be recycled back to the process stream feeding the energy supply of the pulp and/or paper manufacturing plant. Third, as explained herein, pulp and/or paper manufacturing plants become more and more energy efficient, thus the required modified lignin supply for energy providing purposes is about to shrink. Alternatively, energy losses could be mediated by using forest residues and/or by transferring to black liquor gasification. In that scenario, the industry could continue to generate the power they need, but because of the higher efficiency of gas turbines, could also produce a separate syngas stream that can in part for the generation of energy, and in part for the production of higher-value products.

For carrying out step (3), the assembly comprises a decomposition unit, providing means to sustain elevated temperature and/or pressure, and to provide the required reactants in solid, liquid and/or gaseous form, preferably in one reaction vessel only. Alternatively, the decomposition unit of the assembly provides a suitable electrochemical cell such as a flow cell.

For conducting step (4), the assembly comprises an isolation unit providing means for isolating low molecular weight aromatic lignin-derived compounds, such as monomers and dimers are used herein, from higher molecular weight lignin-derived components and/or other material involved in the inventive method. Preferably said means is an ultra- and/or nanofiltration unit or an extraction. All ducts and/or product and/or process stream contacting parts are preferably made from inert materials. The preferred details of said assembly are described herein with regard to the method, which is performed in said assembly. For example, valves and/or pumps or gravity assisting means may typically be employed to facilitate the required flow of the stream downwards to the next step of the inventive method.

It is even more preferred that said assembly for conducting the requires steps further comprises (v) optionally an annulation unit, (vi) an oxidizing unit, (vii) a derivatization unit and (viii) optionally a purification unit. Therein, typically step (4.2) is conducted in an annulation unit, step (4.3 (a)-(c)) in an oxidizing unit, and step (5) and step (6) in a derivatizing unit. The preferred requirements for such assembly units may be derived from the conditions and characteristics of the method steps described herein, which are performed in said assembly units.

Preferably, said assembly is directly connected to a conventional pulp and/or paper production plant. However, in an alternative embodiment, the apparatus is not directly associated or attached with the conventional pulp and/or paper manufacturing plant. Instead. The process stream originating from step (1), e.g. of a conventional pulp and/or paper manufacturing plant, is collected and then transferred to a distinct apparatus suitable to conduct the steps (2) to (5) and optionally (6). Yet, in the context of the present invention, a direct integration of the apparatus suitable to conduct the steps (2) to (5) and optionally (6) is preferred, as such direct integration provides for a flexible separation of the lignin-derived compounds in the process stream depending on the energy needs and further parameters of the pulp and/or paper manufacturing plant.

In a further aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for applying a pulp and/or paper manufacturing process using the pulping process by a plant, wherein the plant is equipped with an assembly according to the present invention. Accordingly, said method refers to modifying an existing pulp and/or paper manufacturing plant, working e.g. under the Kraft or sulfite process, wherein the plant is provided with the assembly according to the present invention. This may be of particular benefit, as an existing plant is thereby upgraded to provide potentially simultaneously (i) conventional pulp and/or paper, (ii) energy supply from lignin combustion to run the plant in a preferably self-sustaining manner, and (iii) intermediates of fine chemicals or fine chemicals such as redox active compounds based on the otherwise by-product of modified lignins. The such upgraded plant may be versatilely operated depending on actual demand for pulp, energy or fine chemical. Hence, this method significantly adds flexibility and appreciation to the existing pulp and/or paper manufacturing plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIGS. 1 and 2 show steps (5) (sulfonation) and following steps of an exemplary method according to the invention.

EXAMPLES

The examples shown in the following are merely illustrative and shall describe the present invention in a further way. These examples shall not be construed to limit the present invention thereto. The following preparations and examples are given to enable those skilled in the art to more clearly understand and to practice the present invention. The present invention, however, is not limited in scope by the exemplified embodiments, which are intended as illustrations of single aspects of the invention only, and methods, which are functionally equivalent are within the scope of the invention. Indeed, various modifications of the invention in addition to those described herein will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description, accompanying figures and the examples below. All such modifications fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Example 1: Preparation of Low Molecular Weight Aromatic Lignin-Derived Compounds By Cracking and Reduction By a Nickel Catalyst

Reductive cracking of a modified lignin-derived component according to step (E.2) of the inventive method may for example be carried out by means of a catalyst comprising nickel, e.g. supported on activated carbon (Ni/C). The catalysts are typically prepared by an incipient-wetness impregnation method and further treated by a carbothermal reduction method known in the art.

Herein, nickel nitrate(II) hexahydrate [Ni(NO₃)₂ 6H2O] is used and optionally added into water in a beaker known in the art. The solution is then stirred, e.g. for at least 30 min, to prepare an impregnation stock solution. Activated carbon having a water absorption capacity of typically above 1.8 mL g⁻¹ is added into the solution and the beaker may then covered by a culture dish to keep the sample wet for a prescribed time, preferably more than 12 h, more preferably 24 h. The sample is then dried at a temperature above 80° C., e.g. 120° C. overnight. The actual reduction is carried out in a container such as a preferably horizontal furnace in a flow of inert gas such as N₂. The flow is, e.g., 10 mL min⁻¹ or more, preferably 30 mL min⁻¹ or more. The reduction temperature preferably reaches at least 400° C., preferably 450° C., e.g. over set time period such as at least 30 min, preferably at least 60 min. The temperature for conducting the reduction is maintained at 450° C. for at least 1 h, more preferably for at least 2 h. The Ni/SBA-15 catalysts are reduced at 550° C. for 2 h. The Ni/Al₂O₃ catalyst is reduced at 700° C. for 2 h. The metal loading for each nickel- and copper-based catalyst is 10% (w/w) relative to the support. Herein, birch sawdust serves as lignocellulosic material and is treated with the ethanol-benzene mixture (v/v ratio 1:2) for 12 h. The treated birch sawdust, solvent (m/v 1:20), and catalyst (w/w 20:1) are placed in an autoclave reactor. The reactor is sealed and purged with Ar 4 to 6 times to expel air. Then, the reducing reaction is conducted at 200° C. at a stirring speed of at least 300 rpm, preferably 500 rpm. When the desired reaction time (usually 2 to 10 h) is reached, the reactor is cooled to ambient temperature before sampling.

Typically, the reaction generates 4-propylguaiacol and 4-propylsyringol as major products, together with minor alkene-substituted 4-propylguaiacol and 4-propylsyringol, as determined by standard gas chromatography. The compounds are isolated according to step (F), preferably by extraction.

Example 2: Preparation of Monomeric Aromatic Lignin-Derived Molecules from Lignosulfonate of a Sulfite Process By Electrooxidation

Lignosulfonate is provided by step (D) according to the present invention. Thereof, a 1 M aqueous NaOH solution is prepared, comprising 1% (W/W) lignosulfonate. Said solution is subjected to an electrooxidation according to step (E.3). Therein, the solution is employed as anolyte. A 1 M aqueous solution is employed as katalyte. A flow cell with a flow rate of 250 ml/min is used. Electrolysis is allowed to take place galvanostatically for 8 h applying current of 1 mA/cm². A typical resulting voltage is 1.4 V. The voltage curve typically is asymptotic and the solution changes preferably color from brown to dark brown.

Samples of the solution are taken every hour over a time span of 8 h and subsequently examined photometrically. Thereof, an absorption profile typical for ortho- benzoquinone is determined. Hence, a lower molecular weight aromatic lignin-derived compound, quinone compound, is prepared by said method.

Said compound is then isolated according to step (F) of the present invention. Therefore, said compound is extracted by dichloromethane and subsequently subjected to cycles of charging and discharging processes in a flow cell. The voltage curve shows that the compound is redox active, which may be reversibly electrolyzed.

Example 3: Preparation of an Annulated Quinone Compound By a Friedel-Crafts Acylation

Vanillin as a low molecular weight aromatic lignin-derived compound is provided by step (F) according to the present invention. Said compound is further annulated according to step (G) and oxidized according to step (H) according to the present invention in five steps as follows:

(i) Synthesis of 4-(benzyloxy)-3-methoxybenzaldehyde (2):

Vanillin (1) (1.0 eq.) and benzyl chloride (1.2 eq.) are dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide and potassium iodine (0.5 mol %) is added. Afterwards potassium carbonate is added and the reaction is stirred above 60° C., preferably between 60 to 120° C. for at least 1 h, preferably 1 to 8 h. After completion of the reaction, the solution is diluted with distilled water and extracted with an appropriate solvent. The organic phase is washed with brine and the product is then isolated from the organic phase.

(ii) Synthesis of 4-(benzyloxy)-3-methoxybenzoic acid (3):

A mixture of 1,2-dimethoxyethane and potassium hydroxide (5 to 20 eq.) is purged with oxygen and the calculated amount of isolated product 2 (1.0 eq.) is added. After the absorption of oxygen ceases, the mixture is diluted with distilled water and neutral organic products are extracted with an appropriate solvent. The aqueous layer is acidified and the acidic organic products are extracted with an appropriate solvent. Product 3 is isolated from the organic layer.

(iii) Synthesis of 4-(benzyloxy)-3-methoxybenzoyl chloride (4):

Isolated product 3 (1.0 eq.) is dissolved in thionyl chloride (5-20 eq.) and the mixture is stirred at 60 to 120° C. for 1 to 8 h. After completion of the reaction excess thionyl chloride is evaporated to yield desired acyl chloride 4.

(iv) Synthesis of anthraquinones (5-7):

Aluminiumtrichloride (0.1 eq.) is added to the crude acyl chloride 4 and the mixture is stirred for 30 to 300 min at −20 to 60° C. After completion of the reaction the mixture is carefully quenched with bicarb solution. The product is extracted with an appropriate solvent and the organic layer is washed with brine. The product is then isolated from the organic phase.

(v) Synthesis of 2,6-dihydroxy-3,7-dimethoxyanthracene-9,10-dione 8 and 2,6-dihydroxy-1,7-dimethoxyanthracene-9,10-dione 9:

Anthraquinone 5 or 6 are dissolved in ethyl acetate, methanol or ethanol and palladium on charcoal (1 to 30 weight %) is added. The mixture is stirred at room temperature under hydrogen atmosphere (1-10 bar). The catalyst is filtered off and the product (9) is isolated from the mixture.

The product is then characterized by spectrographic means, and provided as redox active compound according to the present invention.

Example 4:Derivatization of (Hydro-)Quinones Example 4.1 Reduction of Dimethoxy Benzoquinone

23.2 g of sodium dithionite (0.134 mol, 1.32 eq.) was added to the suspension of 17.0 g (0.101 mol, 1.0 eq.) 2,6-dimethoxycyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-dione in 100 mL H₂O. After 2 h stirring at room temperature the precipitate was filtered off and dried in the air to give 15.85 g (0.093 mol, 92% yield) of 2,6-dimethoxybenzene-1,4-diol as a white solid.

Example 4.2:Oxidation of Methoxy Benzohydroquinone

1.4 g of catalyst Cu/AlO(OH) was added to a solution of 8.2 g (0.059 mol) 2-methoxy-1,4-dihydroxybenzene in 250 mL ethyl acetate, and the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 147 h under an O₂ atmosphere. After the conversion determined by HPLC reached 99%, the reaction mixture was filtered, and the recovered catalyst was washed with ethyl acetate (100 mL×3). The filtrate was collected and solvent was removed in vacuo to give 7.66 g (0.055 mol, 95% yield) of 2-methoxycyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-dione as a yellow-brownish solid.

Example 4.3:Acetylation of Methoxy Benzohydroquinone

8.24 g (0.059 mol, 1.0 eq.) of 2-methoxybenzene-1,4-diol was weighed into a 250 mL reaction flask equipped with a reflux condenser. 60 mL of dichloroethane and 15 mL (0.159 mol, 2.7 eq.) of acetic anhydride were added. 12 mL (0.096 mol, 1.63 eq.) of boron trifluoride ether solution was then slowly added at room temperature with stirring. The reaction mixture was heated to 90° C. for 20 hours. The mixture was cooled to 60° C., 30 mL H₂O was added followed by 10 mL HCl (6 M). The resulting mixture was heated to 100° C. for 30 min, cooled down and extracted with ethyl acetate (150 mL×3). The combined extracts were washed sequentially with H₂O (100 mL), saturated sodium bicarbonate (100 mL) and H2O (100 mL) and then dried with anhydrous sodium sulfate. The solvent was removed in vacuo to give a brown solid residue, which was washed with methanol to give 7.49 g (0.041 mol, 70% yield) of 1-(2,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)ethan-1-one as a beige solid.

Example 4.4 Addition of Isonicotinic Acid to Benzoquinone

2.16 g (0.02 mol, 1.0 eq.) of p-benzoquinone was suspended in 6.4 mL of acetic acid. 2.46 g (0.02 mol, 1.0 eq.) of nicotinic acid was added and the mixture was stirred for 2 h at rt. The resulting dark mixture was diluted with 3 mL of water and treated with 6.6 mL of HCl (6 M). On cooling, solid precipitated which was filtered off and dried overnight at 60° C. to give 3.13 g (0.012 mol, 59% yield) of 3-carboxy-1-(2,5-dihydroxyphenyl)pyridin-1-ium chloride as an yellow solid.

Example 4.5 Sulfonation of Anthraquinone

A solution of anthraquinone was heated (180° C.) in a solution of 20%-40% SO₃ in concentrated sulfuric acid (oleum), resulting in a mixture of sulfonated anthraquinones. The crude mixture was poured onto ice and partially neutralized with calcium hydroxide. Subsequently, the mixture was filtrated and concentrated to yield the final product.

Example 4.6: Sulfonation of Hydroquinone (1,4-Dihydroxybenzene)

A solution of hydroquinone was heated (80° C.) in a solution of 20%-40% SO₃ in concentrated sulfuric acid (oleum), resulting in a mixture of sulfonated hydroquinones. The crude mixture was poured onto ice and partially neutralized with calcium hydroxide. Subsequently, the mixture was filtrated and concentrated to yield the final product.

Example 4.7: Sulfonation of 1,4-Dihydroxy-2,6-Dimethoxybenzene

A solution of hydroquinone was heated (80° C.) in a solution of 20%-35% SO₃ in concentrated

sulfuric acid (oleum), resulting in a mixture of sulfonated 1,4-dihydroxy-2,6-dimethoxybenzenes. The crude mixture was poured onto ice and partially neutralized with calcium hydroxide. Subsequently, the mixture was filtrated and concentrated to yield the final product.

Example 4.8: Sulfonation of 2-Methoxyhydroquinone

A solution of 2-methoxyhydroquinone was heated (80° C.) in a solution of 20%-40% SO₃ in concentrated sulfuric acid (oleum), resulting in a mixture of sulfonated 2-methoxyhydroquinones. The crude mixture was poured onto ice and partially neutralized with calcium hydroxide. Subsequently, the mixture was filtrated and concentrated to yield the final product.

Example 5: Model Compounds from the Modification Reaction of Benzoquinones Paired with Sulfonated Anthraquinone in an Organic Redox Flow Battery

Table 4 shows three examples for pairings that were used in a fully organic redox flow battery that were achieved by the modification of quinones. Example A shows a pairing of a sulfonated benzohydroquinone that was achieved by a double substitution reaction with sulfur trioxide and a sulfonated anthraquinone that was also achieved by a double substitution reaction with sulfur trioxide. Example B shows a glycin substituted mono methoxy benzohydroquinone that was achieved by the nucleophilic attack of an glycin to the methoxy benzoquinone paired with the sulfonated anthraquinone. In example C a isonicotinic acid substituted benzohydroquinone is paired with the same anthraquinone. The isonicotinic acid was introduced by nucleophilic attack as well.

TABLE 4 Pairings for modified products in a fully organic redox flow battery A

OCV = 0.8 V B

OCV = 1.0 V C

OCV = 0.55 V 

1. A redox flow battery comprising at least one sulfonated and optionally further derivatized low molecular weight aromatic compound, wherein said compound corresponds in structure to Formula (X), (XI), (XII), (XIII), (XIV) or (XV):

wherein each R¹, R², R³ or R⁴ is independently selected from hydrogen, hydroxy, carboxy, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkenyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alcohol, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ aminoalkyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ carboxyalkyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ aldehyde, ester, halogen, amine, amino, amide, nitro, oxo, carbonyl, phosphoryl, phosphonyl, cyanide and sulfonyl (SO₃H), provided that (i) at least three of R¹-R⁴ are SO₃H or (ii) provided that at least one of R¹-R⁴ is SO₃H and at least one of R¹-R⁴ is hydroxy or C₁₋₆ alcohol;

wherein each R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵ or R⁶ is independently selected from hydrogen, hydroxy, carboxy, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkenyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alcohol, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ aminoalkyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ carboxyalkyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ aldehyde, ester, halogen, amine, amino, amide, nitro, oxo, carbonyl, phosphoryl, phosphonyl, cyanide and sulfonyl (SO₃H), provided that (i) at least three of R¹-R⁶ are SO₃H or (ii) provided that at least one of R¹-R⁶ is SO₃H and at least one of R¹-R⁶ is hydroxy or C₁₋₆ alcohol;

wherein each R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷ or R⁸ is independently selected from hydrogen, hydroxy, carboxy, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkenyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alcohol, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ aminoalkyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ carboxyalkyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ aldehyde, ester, halogen, amine, amino, amide, nitro, oxo, carbonyl, phosphoryl, phosphonyl, cyanide and sulfonyl (SO₃H), provided that (i) at least three of R¹-R⁸ are SO₃H or (ii) provided that at least one of R¹-R⁸ is SO₃H and at least one of R¹-R⁸ is hydroxy or C₁₋₆ alcohol.
 2. The redox flow battery according to claim 1, wherein said redox flow battery comprises a first (optionally aqueous) electrolyte solution comprising a first (redox active) electrolyte; a first electrode in contact with said first (optionally aqueous) electrolyte solution; a second (optionally aqueous) electrolyte solution comprising a second (redox active) electrolyte; a second electrode in contact with said second (optionally aqueous) electrolyte solution; wherein one or both of the first and second (redox active) electrolytes comprise the at least one sulfonated (and optionally further derivatized) low molecular weight aromatic compound.
 3. The redox flow battery of claim 1, wherein the sulfonated low molecular weight aromatic compound corresponds in structure to Formula (X) or (XI), and wherein R¹ and R⁴ are independently selected from H and SO₃H; R² is selected from H, OH, C₁-C₆ alcohol, and SO₃H; and R³ is selected from H, OH and C₁-C₆ alcohol.
 4. The redox flow battery of claim 1, wherein the sulfonated low molecular weight aromatic compound is characterized by one of the following: a) R⁴ is SO₃H; b) R⁴ is SO₃H, R³ is methoxy; c) R⁴ is SO₃H, R² and R³ are methoxy; d) R¹ and R⁴ are SO₃H; e) R¹ and R⁴ are SO₃H, R³ is methoxy; or f) R² and R⁴ are SO₃H, and R³ is methoxy.
 5. The redox flow battery of claim 1, wherein the sulfonated low molecular weight aromatic compound corresponds in structure to Formula (XII) or (XIII), wherein R¹ and R² are independently selected from H, OH and C₁-C₆ alcohol; and R³-R⁶ are independently selected from H and SO₃H.
 6. The redox flow battery of claim 1, wherein the sulfonated low molecular weight aromatic compound corresponds in structure to Formula (XIV) or (XV) and wherein R¹, R² and R⁴ are independently selected from H, OH and C₁-C₆ alcohol; and R³, R⁵-R⁸ are independently selected from H and SO₃H.
 7. The redox flow battery of claim 1, wherein the sulfonated low molecular weight aromatic compound is characterized by one of the following: a) R¹ is SO₃H; b) R² is SO₃H; R¹, R³ and R⁴ are OH; c) R⁶ is SO₃H; R¹ and R⁴ or R¹, R² and R⁴ are OH; d) R² and R⁶ are SO₃H; R¹ and R⁴ or R¹, R³ and R⁴ are OH; e) R³ and R⁶ are SO₃H; R¹, R² and R⁴ are OH; f) R² and R⁷ are SO₃H; or g) R¹ and R⁴ are SO₃H; wherein each of the other of R¹-R⁸ is/are SO₃H, hydroxy, C₁-C₆ alcohol, or H.
 8. The redox flow battery of claim 1, wherein the sulfonated low molecular weight aromatic compound is selected from a sulfonated compound according to Table 1, 2 or
 3. 9. The redox flow battery of claim 8, wherein the sulfonated low molecular weight aromatic compound is selected from compounds 15 and 16 (Table 1), compounds 66-85 (Table 2) and compounds 293-400 (Table 3).
 10. A redox flow battery comprising a composition comprising at least two sulfonated low molecular weight aromatic compounds, wherein said compounds independently correspond in structure to Formula (X), (XI), (XII), (XIII), (XIV) or (XV):

wherein each R¹, R², R³ or R⁴ is independently selected from hydrogen, hydroxy, carboxy, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkenyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alcohol, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ aminoalkyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ carboxyalkyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ aldehyde, ester, halogen, amine, amino, amide, nitro, oxo, carbonyl, phosphoryl, phosphonyl, cyanide and sulfonyl (SO₃H), provided that (i) at least two of R¹-R⁴ are SO₃H, or provided that (ii) at least one of R¹-R⁴ is SO₃H and at least one of R¹-R⁴ is hydroxy or C₁₋₆ alcohol;

wherein each R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵ or R⁶ is independently selected from hydrogen, hydroxy, carboxy, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkenyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alcohol, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ aminoalkyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ carboxyalkyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ aldehyde, ester, halogen, amine, amino, amide, nitro, oxo, carbonyl, phosphoryl, phosphonyl, cyanide and sulfonyl (SO₃H), provided that (i) at least two of R¹-R⁶ are SO₃H, or provided that (ii) at least one of R¹-R⁶ is SO₃H and at least one of R¹-R⁶ is hydroxy or C₁₋₆ alcohol;

wherein each R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷ or R⁸ is independently selected from hydrogen, hydroxy, carboxy, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkenyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alcohol, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ aminoalkyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ carboxyalkyl, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, linear or branched, optionally substituted, C₁₋₆ aldehyde, ester, halogen, amine, amino, amide, nitro, oxo, carbonyl, phosphoryl, phosphonyl, cyanide and sulfonyl (SO₃H), provided that (i) at least two of R¹-R⁸ are SO₃H, or provided that (ii) at least one of R¹-R⁸ is SO₃H and at least one of R¹-R⁸ is hydroxy or C₁₋₆ alcohol; and wherein at least one of the sulfonated low molecular weight aromatic compounds is in an oxidized state according to Formula (X), (XII) or (XIV), and/or at least one of the sulfonated low molecular weight aromatic compounds is in a reduced state according to Formula (XI), (XIII) or (XV).
 11. The redox flow battery of claim 10, wherein the at least two sulfonated low molecular weight aromatic compounds are characterized by the following: (a) at least one compound according to Formula (X) and (XI); (b) at least one compound according to Formula (XII) and (XIII); and/or (c) at least one compound according to Formula (XIV) and (XV).
 12. The redox flow battery of claim 11, wherein the composition comprises (a) at least two compounds according to Formula (X) and (XI), wherein said at least two compounds are distinctly sulfonated and/or substituted; (b) at least two compounds according to Formula (XII) or (XIII), wherein said at least two compounds are distinctly sulfonated and/or substituted; and/or (c) at least two compounds according to Formula (XIV) or (XV), wherein said at least two compounds are distinctly sulfonated and/or substituted.
 13. The redox flow battery of claim 11, wherein each of the at least two compounds comprises at least three SO₃H groups.
 14. The redox flow battery of claim 1, wherein the sulfonated (and optionally further derivatized) low molecular weight aromatic compound or a composition comprising the sulfonated low molecular weight aromatic compound is obtainable by (1) providing a starting material; (2) optionally subjecting said starting material to a process suitable to obtain at least one low molecular weight precursor compound; (3) isolating and optionally modifying at least one low molecular weight precursor compound thereby obtaining at least one low molecular weight aromatic precursor compound; (4) subjecting the at least one low molecular weight precursor compound to a sulfonation reaction, wherein one or more SO₃H groups are introduced into the at least one precursor compound thereby obtaining the at least one sulfonated low molecular weight aromatic compound or the composition comprising the sulfonated low molecular weight aromatic compound.
 15. The redox flow battery of claim 14, wherein the starting material is selected from lignocellulosic material, crude oil, coal and a pure organic substance.
 16. The redox flow battery of claim 14, wherein the compound corresponds in structure to any one of Formula (X)-(XV), and/or the composition comprises compounds corresponding in structure to any one of Formula (X)-(XV).
 17. The redox flow battery of claim 14, wherein the sulfonated (and optionally further derivatized) low molecular weight aromatic compound or the composition comprising the sulfonated low molecular weight aromatic compound is dissolved or suspended in a suitable solvent to form an electrolyte solution.
 18. The redox flow battery of claim 10, wherein: (a) in Formula X and XI at least one of R¹-R⁴ is hydroxy or C₁-C₆ alcohol; (b) in Formula XII and XIII at least one of R¹-R⁶ is hydroxy or C₁-C₆ alcohol; and/or (c) in Formula XIV and XV at least one of R¹-R⁸ is hydroxy or C₁-C₆ alcohol. 